Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus & Arkansas Democrats Release Statement Condemning Blatantly Illegal “Whites Only” Community in Sharp County & Call for Attorney General Tim[...]

LITTLE ROCK- Arkansas Democrats respond to comments from Attorney General Tim Griffin's Office saying they've found no illegality in their initial review of the "Return to the Land" settlement in Sharp County.
Chair of the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus Rep. Jay Richardson (D-Fort Smith) said:

"The discriminatory private housing development in Sharp County represents a troubling moment for our state. While Attorney General Tim Griffin has issued preliminary statements about ongoing investigations, the fundamental issue remains clear: this private 'members only' association that excludes people based on race, religion, and sexual orientation runs counter to Arkansas values and potentially violates civil rights protections.

As Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, I am deeply concerned that Arkansas is being portrayed nationally as tolerant of discriminatory practices. This does not represent the Arkansas I know and serve. Our state has made tremendous progress, and we cannot allow extremist elements to define us or roll back decades of civil rights advancement.

Every Arkansan deserves to live free from discrimination. While this may be structured as a private development, the exclusionary practices being reported are deeply concerning and warrant thorough investigation.

Beyond the moral responsibility, developments that promote discrimination inflict real economic damage on our state. Arkansas is working to court innovators, entrepreneurs, and businesses who want to invest in communities that value all people. We cannot build a thriving, modern economy while simultaneously tolerating spaces that exclude based on race, religion, or sexual orientation. These discriminatory practices drive away the very businesses and talent we need to grow.

This issue also contributes to an ongoing brain drain that Arkansas can ill afford. Some of our brightest minds-the innovators and leaders we desperately need-are questioning why they should remain in a state they love when discrimination like this is allowed to continue. We need more talent and innovation, not less.

I call on the Attorney General's office to complete a thorough investigation and take appropriate legal action if violations are found. If state resources prove insufficient, I encourage referral to federal authorities. Arkansas deserves leadership that stands firmly against discrimination in all its forms and works to build an inclusive future that attracts the best and brightest to our state."

Lawyer and legislator Rep. Nicole Clowney (D-Fayetteville) said:

"Let's be clear: The Civil Rights Act of 1866 says that you can't discriminate in the sale of property based on race. There are no exceptions. None. A 'whites only' real estate development clearly runs afoul of that.

The Fair Housing Act broadly prohibits discrimination in the sale of real estate based on all the standard protected classes, including race, religion, sex, disability, and national origin. If this qualifies under the "private club" exception to the Fair Housing Act, then literally any housing developer could just use that to circumvent fair housing laws. Further, even if this were to fall under the exemption, rightfully exempt housing still cannot use discriminatory advertising or make statements to limit someone moving in. A 'whites only' real estate development clearly runs afoul of that.

The white supremacists constructing this compound are openly and outrageously violating the law, and the Arkansas Attorney General or the U.S. Department of Justice needs to step in immediately.

As an Arkansan and a legislator, I am extremely concerned about what is happening in Sharp County. You don't need to be a lawyer to know that discrimination and segregation do not represent Arkansas values. Our state cannot be a safe place for hatred to fester. Leaders across the state must stand up against racism, antisemitism, and bigotry in all forms, especially right here in our own backyard."

Arkansas Democratic Party Spokesperson Micah Wallace said:

"Gov. Sarah Sanders and the Republican Party of Arkansas need to condemn this racist Neo-Nazi compound immediately. Attorney General Tim Griffin is folding under pressure from extremist, white supremacist podcasters instead of standing up for what he knows is right. He's failing the people of Arkansas by refusing to hold these criminals accountable.

People who live here know that the vast and overwhelming majority of Arkansans are kind and loving to our neighbors, no matter their religion, sexuality, or the color of their skin. Allowing our state to become a safe haven for bigotry is a mistake that history will not remember kindly. Democrats will keep fighting against the ideology perpetrated by the "Return to the Land" settlement and the hatred it breeds."

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