KALB – Pineville, Louisiana – Neighbors in Pineville say they’re on edge after fliers advertising the Ku Klux Klan appeared in dozens of front yards over the weekend.
According to the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, sightings of the fliers have been reported in Pineville, Ball and Tioga.
Now, they’re getting the FBI involved.
News Channel 5’s Brooke Buford (Twitter: @brookebuford) has more.
Cathy Chicola says she could hardly believe it when she walked outside to get her mail Saturday and saw a flier advertising the Ku Klux Klan in her front yard.
“Uh, really? It still exists,’ said Cicola.
Chicola, along with a handful of other residents both black and white, received the fliers on Wildwood Drive in Pineville.
There were also reports over the past few weeks of fliers popping up on other Pineville Streets, as well as in Ball and Tioga.
“I have two kids and I don’t want them to be growing up in this type of environment full of hate,” said Chicola. “Hate should not exist. When I see something like this, it says it’s still out there and I don’t approve of it. I don’t.”
Chicola’s neighbors say they’re shocked as well.
Some say they didn’t know the Klan was in existence in the area.
“Well, I’m definitely overwhelmed,” said another neighbor. “I’m shocked. I can’t believe this would occur right here in Pineville.”
The distribution campaign has attracted the attention of the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office.
They tell us they’ve gotten the FBI involved.
“It draws concern when this type of flier is deliberately put in certain people’s yards,” said Lt. Tommy Carnline with RPSO. “Some of these fliers have been put in our African American residents yards. They feel that is a threat. That’s how we look at it. That’s how we’re going to investigate it.”
Neighbors say while these KKK announcements are troublesome, they say it’s not enough to scare them away from the neighborhood. They believe they still live in a safe community.
“I have been here a long time,” said Chicola. “I have always felt safe. But, to see this, it’s still out there. Overall, I still feel safe out here, it just needs to be addressed, something like this.”
We reached out to the Ku Klux Klan, as well as the NAACP about the fliers.
A KKK representative out of Missouri confirmed the group is actively recruiting in the area.
However, since he would not give his name, it is our policy not to use his statement.
Meanwhile, the local chapter of the NAACP sent us this statement.
“It is unfortunate that the American soil has become fertile again for organizations such as the KKK to find a foothold and flourish,” wrote Ameal Jones, Sr., president of the local chapter. “We thank God for people of peace, equality and good-will for their stance and commitment to make our country safe, healthy and fair for all Americans.”
