White-Exclusive Settlement Emerges in Arkansas: Online Response Examined
In a remote part of the Ozarks, Arkansas, a controversial community known as Return to the Land (RTTL) has established a 160-acre settlement, and its leaders are planning to expand to Missouri and create similar communities nationwide. The community, which describes itself as a private membership association restricted to individuals of European ancestry, has faced widespread criticism and legal scrutiny.
The NBC News interview about the community received over 10.2 million views, sparking reactions from nearly 80,000 commenters. Many viewers expressed shock at the group's open support for discrimination, with a large number voicing strong opposition to the community. Some commenters drew parallels between the beliefs and actions of the group and past instances of discrimination.
The RTTL community, led by Eric Orwoll, has infrastructure such as cabins, roads, wells, a community center, and a schoolhouse. However, the group's name, "Return to the Land," has raised questions due to the fact that US land originally belonged to Indigenous people. Some commenters have pointed out the irony of the group's name, suggesting that if they are returning to their land, they should go back to Europe, given their European ancestry.
The community's racial exclusivity has been met with condemnation from activist groups, state, and local officials. The Arkansas Attorney General, Tim Griffin, has launched an investigation into RTTL but has stated that the community is legal under current state law, despite banning Jews and others from membership. Griffin also emphasized that racial discrimination "has no place in Arkansas or anywhere in a free society" and noted the group faces "all sorts of legal issues, including constitutional concerns."
Experts and activists argue that such racially exclusive communities likely violate federal and state anti-discrimination laws, especially those governing housing and public accommodations. As a result, the legality of the RTTL community remains questionable.
Critics label the group racist and antisemitic, and there is significant concern about the spread of such segregated settlements nationwide. The planned expansion of RTTL into places like Springfield, Missouri, has raised alarm among officials and activists.
In summary, while the Arkansas Attorney General currently considers the RTTL community legal under state law, significant legal challenges remain due to anti-discrimination laws, and public opinion is broadly critical of the project and its planned expansion to Missouri. The future of the RTTL community and its expansion plans remains uncertain as the investigation continues, and the controversy surrounding the group continues to garner widespread attention and debate.
Timely criticism and debate have ensued on general-news platforms, such as NBC News, regarding the legality and discriminatory nature of the RTTL community's war-and-conflicts-tinged political aspirations, particularly their crime-and-justice practices and plans for expansion. This heated discussion has led to widespread concerns about the potential establishment of similar discriminatory communities nationwide.
