To the shock and alarm of many across East Tennessee, more than 2,000 flyers distributed by Ku Klux Klan – ones that grossly encouraged immigrants to “leave now” and “self-deport” – were found in neighborhoods across the region Tuesday, including here in Chattanooga in Highland Park.
In response, Police Chief John Chambers said in a written statement the police are working tirelessly “to identify and hold accountable the individuals who, under the cover of nightfall, sought to spread fear, hatred, and division in our community.”
Later in the day, after news of the flyers quickly spread across the community, Mayor Tim Kelly, commendably so, issued a terse and direct response to those who cowardly distributed the flyers.
“I want to make something absolutely clear: hate has no place in Chattanooga. Ours is a strong and connected community, and we will oppose any person or group that attempts to divide us,” Kelly said. “We may not always agree on everything, but we always love and support each other. We must not let a small group of cowards lead us to believe anything different.”