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Officials say racist pamphlets circulated in Perrysburg; committee considers public response
Summary
Committee members discussed distribution of pamphlets in Perrysburg that bore racist content; city leaders said pamphlets appeared across multiple locations and suggested a public statement while police continue an investigation but lack suspect information.
Perrysburg officials told the safety committee that pamphlets containing racist content, apparently linked to the Ku Klux Klan, were distributed in parts of the city over a recent weekend and that staff are exploring a public response.
A council member and the committee president said pamphlets were found on Sixth and Seventh streets and in other neighborhoods. "There were pamphlets that were spread through most of the areas we saw were on Sixth and Seventh Street throughout the area. They appear to be something from the KKK," a council member said. Public service crews collected items and the committee noted at least two or three locations where literature was found.
Committee members debated response options. One member urged a formal public statement from council and consultation with the law director and the mayor, while also cautioning against amplifying the materials. Officials discussed legal context: the presenter observed that legal precedent protects hate speech under the U.S. Constitution but said community leaders can counter it by public protest and by clearly stating community values.
Police staff told the committee they have no reliable suspect description or vehicle information at present, limiting law-enforcement follow-up; the distribution appears to be a littering event from which the department can seek leads if more information emerges. The committee noted local media coverage and said a public statement could reaffirm community standards without amplifying the pamphlets' messaging.
Ending: The committee asked staff to consult the law director and the mayor about whether to issue a public advisory and to maintain records of recovered pamphlets; no formal resolution was recorded during the meeting.
Note on sourcing: Statements about the pamphlets and their content come from committee members and city staff during the meeting. The transcript records that similar pamphlets have circulated in multiple states, as discussed in the meeting, but provides no identification of who distributed them.
