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Residents in Loudoun County want more done after white supremacy flyers distributed
Residents in Loudoun County have mixed feelings about whether law enforcement should pursue hate crime charges against whoever is responsible for distributing fliers promoting white supremacy in several neighborhoods. FOX 5's Tisha Lewis spoke to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office about how they're handling it.
LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. - Residents in Loudoun County have mixed feelings about whether law enforcement should pursue hate crime charges against whoever is responsible for distributing fliers promoting white supremacy in several neighborhoods.
So far, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office has stopped short of calling it a hate crime.
While the sheriff’s office is asking the community to come forward with information about who may be responsible for the fliers, it is not being handled as a hate crime.
Dozens of fliers were found in driveways across the county last week.
The fliers were reportedly attached to birdseed with the message — "pray for white America" written on them.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said they work very closely with the FBI regarding these matters and consulted with them on previous cases to determine if there is a violation of federal statutes. The sheriff's office told FOX 5 that although they agree there is no place in the community for hate of any kind, there have not been any arrests made due to there being no criminal violations occurring.
The more recent cases that occurred in western Loudoun are still under investigation.
Leesburg resident and former Loudoun County NAACP President Phillip Thompson wants the sheriff to consider the pro-white flier distribution a hate crime.
He says residents feel threatened and intimated.
READ MORE: Loudoun County grapples with racism and anti-Semitism
Investigators say it does not appear residents who received the fliers were targeted.
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Racism and anti-Semitism in Loudoun County
In the same week the country observed Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, about 50 white supremacist flyers were dropped on driveways in Loudoun County. Racist and anti-Semitic graffiti was also found in the bathrooms of both Heritage High School and Loudoun County High School in Leesburg. FOX 5's Josh Rosenthal is in Leesburg with details and what some want to see done.
In a statement emailed to FOX 5, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said:
"Regarding previous reports of offensive propaganda that have been left behind in driveways and alongside the roadway, those cases have been determined to not constitute a hate crime by VA code 52-8.5. We work very closely with the FBI regarding these matters and have consulted with them on previous cases to determine if there is a violation of federal statutes. Although we agree there is no place in our community for hate of any kind, there have not been any arrests made due to no criminal violations occurring. The more recent cases that occurred in western Loudoun is still an ongoing investigation. As with any investigation the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office investigates each case very thoroughly for any criminal violations. The recent incidents are currently being investigated by a detective in an attempt to determine who is distributing the offensive material."