After widespread reports that a Whites-only group was considering Springfield as a next stop for its segregated communities, the city of Springfield has made a statement denouncing the idea.
Known as Return to the Land, the relatively new group based in northern Arkansas has publicly stated interest in creating additional segregated communities in the Ozarks, the “deep south,” and the Appalachian region. As reports of a possible move into Missouri and the Springfield area spread, the Anti-Defamation League and others spoke out and urged city leaders to take a stance against such developments.
Springfield City Council and City Manager David Cameron issued a statement Tuesday, July 29, making it clear that “there is no place in Springfield, or anywhere, for such a divisive and discriminatory vision.” The statement noted no one from the group had contacted the city directly…