This week, the Fredericksburg, Virginia chapter of the NAACP held a panel discussion about Ku Klux Klan flyers that have appeared in the area, The Free Lance Star reports.

KKK recruitment flyers began started popping up in Charlottesville, Virginia and other surrounding areas a few months ago. New flyers appeared on Martin Luther King, Day, and many residents weren't here for it.

“If you have not seen it, the first words [on the flyer] are that Dr. King was a communist pervert,” said Gaye Adegbalola, the facilitator of the NAACP event. “We did not like that, but what can we do in a peaceful manner? For him to be called names like that, we will not take it.”

Upset members of the community wanted to know if the flyers could be considered a hate crime. And so, the NAACP gathered state, local and federal officials to weigh in on the matter.

Though he acknowledged that the flyers were offensive and certainly poor in taste, FBI agent Steve Hall told the audience that he wouldn't consider the flyers to be a hate crime or civil rights violation. “We have to abide by the First Amendment. The First Amendment has priority,” noted Hall.

Fredericksburg Commonwealth’s Attorney La Bravia Jenkins chimed in, agreeing. Jenkins did, however, confirm that anyone distributing the KKK flyers on private property with a “No Trespassing” sign could be charged.

While there haven't been any reports of direct threats or any violent activity, Deputy Fire Chief Mike Jones of the Fredericksburg Fire Department confirmed that the team will be on guard for both of those things, especially during upcoming big events such as the annual Marine Corps Historic Half and the After Hours concerts at Celebrate Virginia South.

“We are not alone. We outnumber the cowards,” said Aaron L. Dobynes, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church where the panel discussion was held. “We can do more together, and whatever waters divide us, keep this energy going because there are people who thrive on division.”

Fredericksburg, VA

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