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'Reprehensible' | Police investigating 3 racist incidents in Loudoun Co.

Sheriff's deputies found about 50 white supremacist flyers in western Loudoun County.

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — Police and sheriff's deputies are investigating three racist incidents in Loudoun County. Two incidents were reported on Thursday and another was reported on Friday.

In western Loudoun County, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office received several reports of white supremacy propaganda flyers found in the driveways of homes on Sagle Road in Purcellville, Hamilton Station Road in Hamilton and Waterford Creek Circle in Waterford.

According to the sheriff's office, all the flyers were in plastic bags that also contained bird seed. Deputies said there is no indication that any household that received the flyers was targeted in any way. Deputies canvassed the areas and found about 50 flyers. 

The flyer started out with a statement that vandalism is wrong, but further down, it called for "100% AMERICANISM" and to "PRAY FOR WHITE AMERICA." 

It also said it came from the Loyal White Knights, one of the biggest and most active groups affiliated with the Klu Klux Klan, according to the Anti Defamation League. 

LWK members follow a version of traditional Klan ideology infused with neo-Nazi beliefs and are best known for their distribution of racist, antisemitic, anti-immigrant, homophobic and Islamophobic propaganda, per ADL. 

"It's to literally cast fear, intimidate, and radicalize minds," Pastor Michelle Thomas of the Loudoun County NAACP Branch said. "This isn't just recruitment. It's domestic terrorism."

While the flyers are problematic, people like Thomas are not surprised. She and the community have come to expect these flyers popping up around Martin Luther King Jr. Day for years. However, this time around, they showed up days later. 

"It really was jaw-dropping because they switched it up a little bit," Thomas added. "They did it on an unsuspecting time. Which means somebody is thinking. Somebody is preparing."

Deputies ask anyone who may have information about the flyers or surveillance video of the flyers to contact them at 703-777-1021.

Meanwhile, police in Leesburg, Virginia, are investigating after racist and antisemitic writing was found in a bathroom at Loudoun County High School on Thursday. 

"There is no place in our society for this type of hateful behavior," the Leesburg Police Department said in a press release. "The department takes such reprehensible actions seriously." 

Additionally, more racist writing was found in a bathroom at Heritage High School on Friday.

The incidents remain under investigation. Anyone who has not already spoken with law enforcement and may have information is asked to call Officer Carter at 703-771-4500, or the department's tip line at 703-443-TIPS. 

These are just the latest incidents of racist writings in Loudoun County. Last month, racist graffiti in the South Riding community sparked calls for change.

Different organizations including the Loudoun Interfaith BRIDGES, Equality Loudoun and the Loudoun County NAACP joined forces to condemn the actions no matter how big or small.

“The criminals who did these disgusting acts knew exactly what they were doing is wrong,” Former LCPS board member Andrew Hoyler said.

Police said over the last 12 months, there have been four reported cases of antisemitic and racist writings in Leesburg schools. However, there could be more.

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