“No blacks, no Jews, no gays."
Those are the rules set by a Christian white nationalist group calling itself "Return to the Land" whose members have founded an off-grid community nestled in the Ozarks outside Ravenden, Arkansas.
The group, consisting primarily of Millennial and Gen Z young men, is building a settlement of straight white Christians – or “a fortress for the white race,” as founder Eric Orwoll puts it.
What Is Return to the Land?
Return to the Land (RTTL) isn’t shy about the fact that they’re trying to create an ethnostate. Founded in 2023 and settled on a 150 acre plot of land, the group only allows those with “traditional views and European ancestry” into their enclave. "You want a white nation? Build a white town?" founder Eric Orwoll asked in a video on X. “It can be done. We’re doing it.”
There’s no misunderstanding on the part of members on why they’re there. Nazi dog whistles are quoted in public chats, and members openly defend Hitler. They say they long for the days of America’s founding, when communities were small, rural, insular, and white.
They say that white, Christian identity is under siege from immigration, and it is not just their right – but their duty – to set up these white-only communities. Movement leaders are already planning for expansion, hoping similar operations will sprout up all across the country.
Is this legal? Is housing segregation back?
Maybe. The community thinks it has the perfect legal loophole to exempt it from fair housing standards.
Is Blatant Discrimination Legal?
The Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing on the basis of race, religion, national origin, or sex. And unlike the planned majority-Islamic community in Texas, outsiders not strictly conforming to the group’s ideals and ethnicity are strictly prohibited.
Fair housing has been the law for nearly 60 years… so how can RTTL flout it so openly?
They say they’ve concocted the perfect loophole. RTTL is registered as a Private Membership Association, or PMA. After applicants are vetted (including with a video call to confirm they are white and don’t follow “non-European religions”), they’re invited to buy shares in the RTTL LLC. Those shares are tied to plots of land which approved applicants can then begin living on.
RTTL says they’re not beholden to follow the landmark civil rights legislation thanks to this private, share-based structure.
"The attorneys we've consulted believe what we're doing is legal,” says Orwoll. “Americans have the right to freely associate and form intentional communities on whatever basis they choose.”
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin seemingly agrees. After an initial review, Griffin's office issued a statement saying they've found no legal wrongdoing on Return to the Land's prejudicial housing structure.
“Racism has no place in a free society," read the memo, "but from a legal perspective, we have not seen anything that would indicate any state or federal laws have been broken.”
What is your response?
8 comments
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Paul
Jesus wouldn't be allowed to live there I guess.
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Dr Rohn
My first reaction? If they're saying it is a Member's only Society, I see no legal argument. Of course I'm not an attorney. I just play one on TV (lol). There are many members only clubs that have strict membership rules, and requirements. So, I don't know that they're gonna have any kind of legal argument against them having rules and requirements to live on their property. I I don't see any way that it could be stopped if you want to move right next to their property. But why would you want to do that? You know they're in the rural area of the Ozarks. Some people will just argue because they can. I don't think this is the case today. One thing that I noted was when the man, I guess the property owner, said (paraphrasing) we're not trying to keep anybody down, but you wouldn't let just anybody into your house. Now I have to agree. I wouldn't just want anybody in my house and that doesn't make me prejudiced or racist. It makes me particular on who I trust around my family. I'm sure that there are people that will stand up on their high horse and on this soapboxes and swear to God that this is just another racial segregation move on the part of white privilege supremacist. And they have a right to that opinion. But I look at it like Censorship. I disagree with an overall blatant censorship too. If you don't want to watch something, don't look at it. If you don't wanna read it, don't buy it. And if you think that you should go live there just because you have a right to live anywhere you want I think that you don't have that argument. They own 150 acres. The don't have to sell you part of that acreage. The don't have to let you live in part of that acreage. There's nothing that I can see other than some deep rooted moral concept to say that they can't tell somebody not to live there. I am totally open to feedback on my point of view and I will give more detailed structure to my side of this situation, should I be asked.
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Tom Thackrey
Since Jesus was neither white nor Northern-European, I question their Christianity.
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Rev. BH
As long as it is a gated community of incels in the Ozarks, fine with me. Fence 'em in, lock the gates and name it Ozark Alley Detention Camp.
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Echo
If you wish to exclude, you are comfortable with hate. Be respectful seems to be lacking with those who set rules to allow segregation.
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Nicholas J Page
Jesus's loved every body black/white/jews/days etc after all we are the same underneath
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Reverend Paula Copp
Frankly, I wouldn’t want to be somewhere where I’m not wanted, but if people want to be included then I suggest that they put in an application to join. Let them have their own country clubs as long as other people are given the same rights… let’s see how well they handle that…
Let's get real. This is the most racist, prejudicial, unChristian thing ever. But it is legal. As long as they own the property they have the right to dictate who steps upon it.
However, that piece of land is still part of the United States of America and as such still has to follow the law. Meaning that they still must pay property taxes. And good luck with any utilities or repair services needed.