Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Community topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident urges Providence council to condemn ‘Aryan Freedom Network’ flyers dropped in neighborhoods
Summary
During public comment at the June 18 Providence City Council meeting, resident George Wooten said flyers from an organization calling itself the Aryan Freedom Network were distributed in the area and urged council leaders to speak out against intimidation and hate speech.
A Providence resident urged the city council on June 18 to condemn flyers bearing white supremacist imagery and messaging that were distributed in local neighborhoods.
George Wooten said flyers from a group using the name “Aryan Freedom Network” and a website listed as whitepower.org were dropped on people’s lawns on June 1. He described finding Nazi imagery on the website and said the flyers’ stated message—“it’s okay to be white and straight”—and related material were intended to intimidate residents who do not fit the movement’s image.
Wooten told the council the flyers aim both to intimidate and to mobilize people who share those beliefs. He urged Providence leaders to speak out against “acts of intolerance” and to make clear that intimidation and harassment are not acceptable in the community.
Why it matters: Public distribution of hate‑group material can harm residents’ sense of safety and belonging. Wooten framed the request as a leadership challenge: he asked city officials to publicly denounce the flyers and reassure vulnerable neighbors.
What was said
“This is a group that is affiliated with the Nazi movement that is distributing these flyers in our neighborhood,” Wooten said, adding that the website he visited contained swastikas and other Nazi material.
“The intent of these flyers is twofold, first to shame and intimidate people who don't fit their image of who should live in America. The second is to motivate and empower people, who share their feelings and get people to join their movement,” Wooten told the council. “Acts like this are an attack on our community's health, wellness, and kindness.”
Council response
Mayor Kathleen Alder and several council members acknowledged Wooten’s remarks and thanked him for bringing the issue to the meeting; the council did not take a formal vote or adopt a resolution during the public‑comment portion of the meeting. Wooten said he had already sent emails to council members summarizing his concerns.
Ending
Wooten asked the council to publicly call out the flyers and to state the city’s intolerance for intimidation and hate. Council members said they appreciated the information and would consider appropriate next steps.
