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Ku Klux Klan flyers scattered across Indiana communities

Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 11:30 AM

By Shelby Lopez

Trinity White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan members have publicly claimed responsibility for flyers being distributed across the state of Indiana, including Rochester. The flyers were in support of a mass deportation that would allegedly be taking place Jan. 20, 2025, stating immigrants are to “leave now” to “avoid deportation,” and encouraged locals to monitor and report foreigners.

Community members were left with mixed emotions earlier this week after Ku Klux Klan flyers were found littered across several streets in Rochester. 

The flyers were in support of a mass deportation that would allegedly be taking place Jan. 20, 2025, stating immigrants are to “leave now” to “avoid deportation,” and encouraged locals to monitor and report foreigners. A phone number and mailing address belonging to the Trinity White Knights of the KKK were also provided at the bottom of the flyers for potential recruitments to the group. 

Trinity White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan have since publicly claimed responsibility for the flyers distribution on Sunday and Monday throughout Indiana communities including Rochester, Warsaw, Plymouth, South Bend, Elkhart, Goshen, Valparaiso, Michigan City, Westfield, Carmel and Fishers. The Trinity White Knights is known as a small hate group based in Kentucky that was founded in 2012. The group has been credited for the distribution of similar flyers across the U.S., including anti-Haitian flyers that began appearing in Springfield, Ohio in September. The KKK group also claimed responsibility for their members distributing flyers on Oct. 20 in the towns of Logansport, Peru, Wabash, Fort Wayne, Huntington, and Auburn. 

Rochester Police Chief Andy Shotts confirmed the reports of flyers being found along several streets in Rochester on Monday, Nov. 18, but declined to comment further, stating he didn't want to give the group any more attention by publicly highlighting their actions. 

Shotts did say the way the flyers had been distributed was illegal due to littering.

“They were basically scattered along the road, and it looked as if somebody was driving down the road and just threw some out the window randomly. I don't want to give them any publicity, credibility, or any free advertisement. We don't condone this type of behavior. All I can say is yes, there were flyers that were littered throughout town. We have tried to collect as many as we can so we can dispose of them,“ Shotts said.