A whites-only settlement in Arkansas is using legal loopholes to bypass civil rights laws, sparking a state investigation into what could become a dangerous blueprint for racial segregation across America.
Story Overview
- Return to the Land operates a 160-acre “whites-only” settlement excluding non-whites, non-Christians, and LGBTQ individuals
- The group claims Private Members Association status exempts them from Fair Housing Act and Civil Rights Act protections
- Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has launched a review citing “constitutional concerns” after media exposure
- Founder Eric Orwoll calls it a “fortress for the white race” and plans to replicate the model nationwide
Segregation Returns to the Ozarks
Return to the Land has established what amounts to modern-day segregation in rural Arkansas, housing approximately 40 residents on 160 acres in the Ozark hills. Founder Eric Orwoll openly describes the settlement as a “fortress for the white race” and restricts membership to people of “European ancestry” who follow “traditional” Christian beliefs. The community explicitly bans gay people and followers of non-European religions, creating a racially and religiously exclusive enclave that echoes America’s darkest segregationist past.
The settlement operates through a Private Members Association structure, selling “shares” tied to buildable acreage to hundreds of paying members worldwide. Legal strategist Peter Siri claims this private club framework creates a “way around” federal civil rights laws by positioning RTTL as a private association rather than a public housing provider. This legal maneuvering represents a sophisticated attempt to resurrect racial segregation under the guise of “freedom of association” and intentional community living.
Constitutional Crisis in the Making
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has initiated a review of RTTL’s practices after learning of the allegations through media reports. Griffin stated that “racial discrimination has no place in Arkansas” and acknowledged the matter raises “constitutional concerns.” This marks the first official government response to what civil rights experts warn could become a test case for whether private club structures can justify housing discrimination based on race, religion, and sexual orientation.
Civil rights lawyers interviewed by Sky News strongly dispute RTTL’s legal interpretation, emphasizing that the Civil Rights Act and Fair Housing Act were deliberately written to prevent such exclusionary arrangements. Courts have repeatedly rejected similar attempts to use private club status as a shield for discrimination. The Arkansas AG’s review could determine whether this brazen challenge to civil rights protections will face swift enforcement action or be allowed to continue operating.
Blueprint for National Expansion
Orwoll has invested tens of thousands of dollars in legal research and claims three additional settlements are already under development using the RTTL template. The community features complete infrastructure including cabins, a schoolhouse where children receive education, wells, roads, and a community center. This isn’t merely an isolated compound but a scalable model designed to create multiple white-only enclaves across the country, potentially normalizing racial segregation for a new generation.
Local Black Arkansans who lived through Jim Crow segregation express deep alarm at what they see as a return of attitudes they thought were buried in the past. The settlement’s existence in a region with a long history of racial segregation and white supremacist activity raises concerns about emboldening extremist movements and creating a magnet for far-right activists. If RTTL avoids legal consequences, it could inspire copycat efforts nationwide, fundamentally challenging America’s commitment to civil rights and equal protection under law.
Sources:
Inside the whites-only settlement in Arkansas – the group building a fortress for the white race
