This weekend, Ku Klux Klan flyers were found littered throughout another neighborhood in Greater Cincinnati. This time, flyers were found on cars on Morten Street in Hyde Park and throughout Covington.
Over the past year, these flyers have been spotted in several neighborhoods in Greater Cincinnati. In June, Clifton and Mount Auburn were targeted. Last fall, similar flyers were found throughout five Cincinnati neighborhoods: OTR, Walnut Hills, East Walnut Hills, Anderson, and Loveland.
“Unfortunately, this group has spread flyers around the Cincinnati area many times,” said Ari Jun, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Klan membership has declined nationwide. In 2023, the SPLC reported that there were fewer than 10 active Klan chapters. Though antisemitism had been climbing over the past several years and, after Oct 7, skyrocketed.
“Even though the KKK is shrinking nationwide, overall hate activity – especially antisemitism – has greatly risen in the last year,” said Jun.
The JCRC director said it was unlikely that the people who spread the flyers would be caught, but people can take proactive steps if they find a flyer like this.
“If you find a flyer like this, first check your surroundings to ensure your safety,” he said. “Once certain you’re safe, document the materials you’ve found – particularly what they look like and where you found them. Then, as appropriate, report them to law enforcement and the JCRC.”
The easiest way to report antisemitic incidents to the JCRC is to go to jewishcincinnati.org/report. And for Jun one of the key things to do after this sort of incident is to contact your elected officials.
“Contact your elected officials and tell them you want them to push for our law enforcement to pursue appropriate charges against those who disseminate these hateful materials,” he said.
According to Jun, it is unlikely that these sorts of flyer dumps will stop anytime soon. It isn’t clear if the flyers are being distributed by lone individuals or by Kentucky’s one active Klan chapter.
“It’s important not to give these materials any more attention they deserve since we know they are distributed by a very limited number of people seeking to gain disproportionate attention for their hateful attitudes.”
