Flyers, meeting spark controversy

FLORENCE, Ky. - A mother disgusted and appalled at a flyer left on her teenaged daughter’s car reads through it carefully: “It's time for you to stop worrying about what the media and politicians may call you, this is your country, not theirs and they have no right to come in and ruin conditions in your community."

When Rachel Rentschler’s 17-year-old daughter, Amanda, walked out to her car with her boyfriend and friend around midnight, after a late movie at the Florence Danbarry movie theater, she found a flyer on the windshield.

Along the top of the flyer stated in all caps ( which can be viewed by clicking here ):

'WHILE MEXICANS, SOMALI AND KENYAN INVADERS WREAK HAVOC FLORENCE LEADERS PUT THEIR HEADS IN THE SAND.'

"It's disheartening that all this racism is happening in such a diverse community," said the newly graduated high school senior.

"America's a melting pot of all kinds of nationalities. It's not just one group of people. We're from everywhere from the world. Everyone migrated here. No one was here first, except the Native Americans.”

Amanda took the flyer home to Elsmere, leaving it on the table for her mom to read when she woke the next morning. And she did.

“It concerns me in the fact that not only is it targeting certain groups of people for problems in their neighborhoods, but in the entire country as well, and it is racially motivated,” said Rentschler.

The flyer stated ( which can be viewed by clicking here ):

“PROBLEMS THAT HAVE ACCOMPANIED THE THIRD WORLD IMMIGRANTS, AS WELL AS THE RABBLE FROM THE INNER CITY OF CINCINNATI, WHO HAVE FLOCKED TO FLORENCE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED TRIVIAL HAVE RECENTLY BECOME MORE SERIOUS AND EVEN THOUGH THE CITY’S ELECTED OFFICIALS AS WELL AS POLICE HAVE BEEN URGED TO TAKE ACTION THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO BLISSFULLY IGNORE THE ISSUE, CHOOSING INSTEAD TO SPEND THEIR TIME WORRYING ABOUT THINGS LIKE FIREWORK SALES.”

"I know that prejudice and racism are everywhere. It's just an unfortunate part of our society, but to have it so close to home is troublesome," said the mother, who said she raised her children to see beyond the color of someone’s skin.

The flyer stated the need for change because of the:

'VIOLENT CRIMINAL ACTS COMMITTED BY THE GROWING THIRD WORLD IMMIGRANT POPULATION IN FLORENCE.'

While it’s not clear who wrote or distributed the flyers on several cars this week, it does indicate a meeting at the Boone County Library’s Scheben Branch in Union, Ky., on Monday, June 11, at 7 p.m. They have booked a conference room for that day and time.

The library said that that is totally within their right.

"Anyone with a Boone County Public Library card who is in what we call good standing, means that they do not owe any fines, that they have no overdue items, can book one of our meeting rooms," said Carrie Herrmann, Boone County Library’s Public Service Coordinator.

The only conference room of its kind at that branch, seats 16 at capacity—and is open to anyone.

"We are open to everyone no matter your beliefs, no matter your race, your creed. We are just open to everyone."

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