Is a "Whites-Only" Community Legal? Christian Nationalists in Arkansas Want to Find Out

Paul

Jesus wouldn't be allowed to live there I guess.

Tom Thackrey

Since Jesus was neither white nor Northern-European, I question their Christianity.

Jedi Monk

I think it's important to try to understand the mindset behind this movement. It seems rooted in fear—fear of others, fear of change, and the belief in their own superiority. Fear-driven ideologies like this tend to create division, not community. Historically, movements built on exclusion and hate often implode under the weight of their own isolation and extremism.

Secular or intentional communities aren't new, and people absolutely have the right to form them. But there's a clear difference between building a values-based community and enforcing membership based purely on race or religion. What this group is doing is, in my view, undeniably racist, regressive, and out of step with a world that desperately needs more unity, not segregation.

It may unfortunately be legal under technical loopholes, but legality doesn't equal morality. Building a community based on skin color rather than character or merit isn’t just exclusionary—it’s a step backward for all of us.

May the force be with us all—we're going to need it.

Nicholas J Page

Jesus's loved every body black/white/jews/days etc after all we are the same underneath

Colleen McAllister

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.

James Riggle-Johnson

Does this particular group of white Christians understand that Jesus himself wouldn’t be allowed in their community? Probably not. I spotted a comment on X (the bitter Twitter) claiming that if a Muslim-only—or purportedly Muslim-only—community can happen, then a white-Christian one should too. But Texas leaders actively investigated the EPIC City proposal—initially dubbed a “Sharia enclave”—only to find that its developers committed to creating an inclusive community open to people of all faiths.

I'm not a lawyer—so whether a whites-only community is legal is for the courts to decide. But one thing is undeniable: if systemic racism is truly a relic of the past, as we're often told, then communities like these prove it’s far from over.

Truthfully, this isn’t about faith or freedom—it’s about power and control. White Christian nationalists are trying to build gated bubbles where they don’t have to see anyone who challenges their worldview—and they’re wrapping their fear in religion as though Jesus gifted them their own zoning permit.

If your “Christian values” demand a gated neighborhood to keep out non-Christians, then maybe your issue isn’t diversity—it’s your theology.

Patricia Ann Gross

I really love it when people want to return to a time and culture before there was electricity, and the law of the land included the ability to own other human beings based on their race or sex. (Yes, before given the right to vote and own land, women were the "property" of their husbands). Society and technology has evolved far beyond this. If that is what you want go buy 150 acres and invite all your "cronies" to live there with you. Ride horses to town and tie them out outside the local bar. Just don't get upset when an 18-wheeler backfires and the horse runs away, and don't interact with anyone outside your immediate circle, because you will likely get your a$$ kicked. Bring your groceries home in a pack on a donkey, and don't expect any refrigeration for your perishables. You will spend most of your time growing your own food, so there is no time for a "real" job (growing food, by the way, IS a real job).

Better yet, return to biblical times when the "sportscar" of the day was a gilded chariot and men had multiple wives and a few concubines (the REAL definition of a biblical marriage). Whatever you do, keep this all on your 150 acre plot and don't expect me to join or think what you are doing is in any way the way that all people ought to live. I'll stay in the 21st century, thank you.

I remember the backlash about the Muslim community in Texas, and how people were all up in arms about it being a harbor for a "terror cell." I prefer communities that are diverse and welcoming to those whose ideas, thoughts, looks and ideals are different. We can learn much more from them than we ever could in the "incestuous" type of community of people that only looks like we do. I understand marginalized communities banding together for the purposes of convenience and safety, but those that have all the priviledge have no excuse.

Patricia A Noble

The communities at Americans founding were not "white"-enslaved Africans & African Americans were an integral part of early American communities on whose backs these communities were literally built, along side white indentured workers, along side affluent communities members. As our population becomes more multi-ethinic/racial, I expect the trend of white washing history in order to bleach the present is likely to increase due to a lack of distress tolerance for change, fragility & inflexibility that masquerades as strength, and inability to navigate complexity. The Christian scriptures provide pathways to grow beyond fear of difference and embrace a spirituality that welcomes the "alien" and the "stranger".

Jedi Monk

Hi Dr. Rohn, thanks for sharing your perspective. I can understand where you're coming from—on the surface, the “members-only” angle does seem to mirror things like private clubs or gated communities. And yes, private landowners generally do have discretion over who they sell to or associate with. But I think there’s more nuance here that’s worth exploring.

The key difference is that this group isn’t just building a secluded community with shared values—it’s actively excluding people based solely on race, religion, and sexual orientation. That’s not simply "being particular" about who you trust around your family; that’s institutionalized discrimination.

The Fair Housing Act was created specifically to prevent people from being excluded from housing opportunities based on identity. The use of a Private Membership Association as a loophole to avoid civil rights laws is legally murky at best—and ethically troubling no matter how it's structured. It's not censorship to say "this shouldn't be allowed"; it's a matter of protecting civil rights in housing and ensuring that access to land and safety isn't restricted to only one race or religion.

I also want to gently push back on the "you wouldn't let just anyone in your house" analogy. A home is private and personal—yes, you choose who enters it. But a 150-acre settlement aiming to expand into a national network of white-only communities is functioning more like a town than a household. And towns—even private ones—are still part of the legal and social fabric of the country. Do you let people into your house ONLY based on their skin color, or something else so vague?

This isn’t just people living how they want. It’s a step toward formalizing racial exclusion again, and that matters—not just legally, but morally. We’ve been down this road before in American history, and we know how dangerous it is.

Happy to hear more of your thoughts. Dialogue like this matters, especially when the legal and ethical lines are being tested so deliberately.

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.

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.

Rev Elle

The guy's name is Orwoll.... irony that his name matches Orwell as he is creating an Orwellian compound.

Clyde

I just love it when useless, worthless, brain dead racist pigs self identify. Just leave America first, because haters and xenophobiacs don’t belong here. Maybe there should be open season on those racist scum. Racists! Please leave my hallowed country: it wasn’t founded by you or for you. Then, please drop dead!

Joseph Grieco

Just because it's barely legal does not mean it is right.

My dad spent a whole bunch of years in Europe in the 1940s fighting against Nazis, and going after Hitler. Now, full disclosure - my dad was a racist SOB! He hated Blacks and Hispanics and barely tolerated Jews. But he had no use for the Klan, the John Birch Society, the American Nazi Party or any other group that wanted to destroy the country. Now, here's an interesting question - does this group allow Catholics? Many ones like this do not want them as a part of their associations. What about Southern Europeans? Italians, Spaniards, Serbs, Croats, Greeks? Are they allowed, or are they only allowing British, Germanic and Nordic settlers.

One more historical item - This is exactly how the Mayflower Compact was set up. Every man (women were barely considered above property level) was required to conform to the government of the Congregational (Pilgrim) Church, regardless if you were an Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Dutch Reformed, etc. you did what you were told by the Elders. Catholics were specifically excluded. The irony is because the Pilgrims were primarily shopkeepers, they had to bring professionals (Black and Tin Smiths, Nail makers, carpenters, husbandmen, farmers, plasterers, stonemasons, etc.) to the point that the Congregationalists were actually the minority population in Plimouth Colony!

Alexander Clarke

It's Arkansas/ What is news about this? The south is still fighting the Civil War.

Patricia Sydney Solis

Arkansas has the highest rate of incest and children born of incest in the USA. (Just like Moses was born of incest from his father’s fling with his aunt) I can just imagine that little circle of white supremacist Christians when the inbreeding turns them into some kind of genetic social science experiment turned horror movie. I have great compassion for their suffering. Especially the children.

ServantOfJudgement

About 44% of our universities host black/brown/Latino/indigenous only events and host zero white only events.

Well over 3000 such events occur annually. When non whites do it thousands of times annually, why would anyone be surprised when whites do the same?

Your places of higher education are teaching segregation.

Danny D. Maynard

Using the "club membership" approach might not be illegal in and of itself. Gay clubs used this for many years, where the "members only" cover charge bought a night's entertainment in the club for the entrance cover charge.

However, the "Return to the Land" group's screening and application process(es) could indeed violate anti-discrimination laws, particularly if they're explicitly excluding people based on race, religion, or other protected characteristics. The fact that the Arkansas attorney general is looking into the matter suggests there are serious concerns about the legality of this group's actions and their potential expansion into Missouri. It's a complicated and sensitive issue that will likely continue to garner attention and debate. Repubilicans may allow this to happen anyway, unfortunately!

Roy S. Thorpe

Sounds an excellent place to rain fire and brimstone !

Walter Abington

I hope all their work fails utterly!

Kevin Joseph Kervick

Unfortunately empowered segregation has become necessary because of the white hate and associated white guilt neurosis that dominates the mainstream culture in the United States. It is natural for ethnic groups to want to be together, without outsiders telling them how they must live their lives.

This group has primarily Catholic and Pagan worshipers in their community. Religious separation is protected and has a long history in the United States.

Ultimately, we are going to need much larger balkanization because the United States is no longer a nation and cannot survive. We destroyed it.

Ben

My opinion will likely be deemed politically incorrect and that's okay because as far as nature goes it's very much correct. That's much more important than a distorted ideology that was promoted by the socioeconomic engineers that have been pushing for this sort of thing for decades. Birds of a feather flock together and wanting to be exclusively with your own is part of that natural flow. There's nothing wrong with it in spite of the naysayers that say otherwise. It would be the same if it was a man of another race forming a community exclusively for his own. Wanting to live separate doesn't necessarily mean you don't like other races not that that would change whether or not it's right to live separately or not. The different races exist because nature (and that which created all of this) intended for it to be this way. They're just preserving their part of nature. That's not a reprehensible thing to do but a noble one. Good for them 💯%. Cheers!

🍻

Rev. Mojo

Merry Meet all, Let me say first, with this new mr. president trump administration, I am ASHAMED to be an AMERICAN!!!!!! All people are immigrants unless they are Native American (of which I am one); and I doubt the "founding fathers" were trying to be ex-clusive, after all, it WAS aristocracy/despotism that they were trying to get rid of. However, since it is an "inclusive" property, like a country club or such, they have the right to make their own "rules." So, to summon up, they do have the RIGHT, but it is the WRONG thing to do if you call yourself American.

Susanna Elaine Harding

As long as it is a private association and they receive no public funds it is legal.

Doesn't make it right, just legal.

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…

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.

Robin Anne Hannon

Even if there is some loophole this is morally bankrupt and ethically challenged. Matthew 5:22 New International Version But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. Matthew 7:21-23 English Standard Version 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Mathew Mowbray

My only comment is - only 150 acres ? If given the opportunity to exit generalised society I would want more than 150

Dr. Zerpersande, NSC

Ahh, the wonders of inbreeding. Really, the US is becoming a cesspool, a real third-world dump.

Jimmy Moon

Nobody said they hate anybody. They just want to be left alone to live a simple, quiet life away from all the drama going on in the world. What is wrong with that? How many white people on here want to go to the ghetto and live amongst other cultures, no matter the race? Any volunteers? I'm white and I hate no one. But I don't want to live in the hood, either. I prefer my race. Or are some of you jealous that they took a stand for their rights also?

Carl G Barker

I do not agree with it but it is a privet organization, and they can have who they want there. If you do not like it do not go there. I'm sure Jesus isn't going.

Steven Ferrell

They will have to answer to God one day. But this really is nothing new as far as people segregating themselves and it is not just Christians.
In Michigan we have entire communities that are muslim.
Many suburbs started as a result of one group moving away from other groups.
The city I grew up in during the 60’s and live in to this day, at one time blacks moved into one area, whites into another area.
There were areas of cities that were mostly Polish people, another area was German, another area was African while yet another black area was from Ethiopia and don’t want to be called African Americans. Mexicans moved into one area, while those from Porta Rico moved into another. Another area has a large community of Asian, another area is people from India.
All these groups have their folks that worship whatever religion it is for them. They all also intentionally segregate themselves into their own communities and even though they are not as vocal as this group, it is known that others area really not welcome or wanted in their areas. Does that mean all of them are not Christian, Muslim, Hindu, whatever, or does it mean people just prefer to be around those they can relate to more?
I figure they all will have to answer to God one day, not to me.

Amy Varela

Racists want to segregate themselves? I say have at it. They should build big, beautiful walls around their white community, also, lest anyone who looks like Jesus would have looked deliver goods to them.

Matthew Mastrogiovanni

Why aren't Christian leaders standing up and denouncing this group? If you don't speak up, then you're supporting it.

Ari Joseph Bertine

Any private group that espouses Nazism is a terrorist group, and that is what's illegal here.

John Reseigh

First, they are not Christians. Jesus did nit teach hate but love of others. Second, they only admit people who follow a European religion. That excludes Christians since it started in the middle east.

Charles Edward Brown

This is no different than many other clubs that exist today. There are clubs based on race, gender, religion, and sexual orientation. I would love to live in a city where there are no gays but I have many friends who are black and Jewish. They are great people so this place would not be for me.

Patti Anne Lisenbee

Don't people realize that black skin was around long before white skin developed? That if you strip people's skin off, we're all identical? That blood doesn't reflect skin color?

Of course they don't. They're only looking at the outer covering. Jesus cares about how your soul is. Apparently, their souls are all hell-bound.

Michael Siebielec

Lawlessness is now the post-democracy guiding light of the MAGA cult.

Miriam Gates

Hi I listened to the video. The man stated other groups can have their own area and they do have them. Why is this wrong? It’s in a remote area and they have their reasons why. There are mosque being built surrounded by their own communities with their own laws which are horrible! Nothing is said about them and they are not welcome to gays or Jews…they also require a dress code for women and their daughters are not allowed to marry outside of their group, so this is the same thing….you can’t have it both ways. Either we have freedom to have PRIVATE groups or not…

John W

"Non-European religions". Well, that definitely leaves out Christianity since it originated in the area that is now part of Isreal and was spread from the Middle East to Europe, Asia and the Americas. I guess these folks never cracked an actual world history book that tries to explain the spread of religions across the globe.

Rev. Jack Harte, DD, MscD

If they are segregating themselves, removing themselves from the community, is that not the best thang that could happen? Do you want to have a chat with these people over coffee? No, you don't, but if they want to create their own closed community, let them.

Aaron Shayda

This is similar to BET or the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) or Unprecedented Chicago or Color of Change or Claim Our Space Now or Black Farmer Fund or thousands of other groups/organizations that discriminate based on race. People are free to associate with whomever they want and people need to respect that.

If they start trying to hurt people or damage other people’s property then it’s an issue. This is no different than buying a property and saying I’ll allow extended family to live on my land but no one else. It’s privately owned and run. The owners can choose who they want.

Does anyone give golf courses or credit card companies a hard time when they say you have to make $xxxx income to join or use our product?

We will always have racism, sexism, classism and all the other ism’s.. People gravitate toward people who are like them and have the same values. This is why we have little Italy, China town, etc. people group together with their own for comfort.

As long as they’re not hurting anyone, let them do their thing and don’t read too much into it.

Minister Don

The more things change, the more they stay the same. As far as I can see, we are all sons and daughters of Noah/Noach/Nuh. I do not care what a person's skin looks like. I do not care about the looks of a person's nose, eyes, hair (well, yes on that one... I wish I had more hair...). I cannot understand why someone would exclude/include another person because of skin. I can understand if a person was excluded because they are a jerk or a bully, but skin?? Anyway, if these people want to be locked up in a "community" because of the color of skin, well, I guess I don't have to see them in the store! I just thought of something... Would they turn down help if their "white" van broke down in the middle of the road, and the only one that stopped to help was a darker skinned woman? Do you think they would say, "no, go away, I want a white man to help." NO! They would take the help and be rude about it. I'm just venting... God bless you all! God loves you all. And so do I.

William A. Ritchey

People have the right to live and associate with those they choose. From a Christian viewpoint this is morally questionable but considering the outright attack on white people, think DEI, and the promotion of the gay lifestyle I can see why people would do this. It's legal so let them be if they are not hurting anyone.

Sean Michael Loftus

I'm willing to bet none of you had anything to say when this happened in Georgia? As supposed reverends, I see a lot of hypocrites on here. So are you going to call out all the black people as well as the white people or just sit on your high horses and hyperventilate because your personal thought got hurt?

Freedom, GA is Black Wall Street of the New South https://atlantatribune.com/2024/05/06/freedom-ga-is-black-wall-street-of-the-new-south/

Alexander Clarke

I wonder what a DNA test would show.

Minister Tanisha M Ingram

The church embracing eccentric norms for global ministry, is a step in worldly religious views as a personal practice. Originalism of Christianity is still relevant in today’s practices as well. Glory to the evolution of Gods kingdom, to evolve your personal ministry the way you want. Minister Tanisha Ingram

Cam Kirmser

I suggest that, if it's private property, the owners are allowed to be as restrictive as they like.

If a homeowner refuses to admit someone of a specific race/gender/national origin/etc. into their home, are they in violation of the law? Does the unwanted visitor have recourse to the law to force the homeowner to allow entry (what a great tool for unwanted solicitors)?

I would say the answer is a resounding, "no." A homeowner is NOT legally bound to allow unwanted visitors into his home. So, by extension, if this is private property, the owners of that property can decide who is allowed in.

Rev. BH

It's not clear to me who purchased the land for this. From who? A private owner? The state? For how much? Was it purchased or merely taken over? Anyone know? Makes a difference.

Bridget Kielas-Fecyk

Tell ya what, how about they put a 15 ft barrier around themselves, and they can inbreed ALL they want and leave the rest of the world alone. Even better, they want a white nation? How about they buy an island, set up their own little nation there. No help from ANY nation that isn't "100% their way" and all of the hate filled bigots can move to that isle and leave the sane world alone. The vast majority of them are antivaxx, anti-science, anti-medicine, etc. So when outbreaks happen there, they can deal with it on their own, too.

Though they sure are bawling in those areas about not getting disaster help from the very people they praised and voted into office.

Annmarie Buckley

Apparently no real Christians are allowed either...

Minister Rob

If black folk can do it https://atlantatribune.com/2024/05/06/freedom-ga-is-black-wall-street-of-the-new-south/ why not white folk? or any other "race"? (We are all Humans btw!)

Shai Shahar

I guess they expect Jesus, who was born a Jew, preached to Jews & was crucified as King of the Jews, will somehow return to Jerusalem (or Arkansas) as a white Christian! (??) Talk about heresy combined with racism..nothing exemplifies total ignorance of the meaning of The Word more than establishing this so-called "Christian" nationalist community.

Morgan Lewis Williams

It's illegal

Deborah Antony

I have stopped calling myself a Christian as it has come to be associated with some very unChrist-like ways of thinking. I now use the term "Christ Follower." All of the comments are spot on when they say the historical Jesus would not be welcome. The Jesus who seeks to unite all in Love, would not be welcome; but Jesus would be in their midst. He loves all.
The scary part is that it may well be legal. These folks bought this land and if they consider it their home and not a town or club, they have the right to, as they said, decide who comes into their home.

We have the historical and horrible references as to what happens when this mindset is not challenged.

And, BTW, the term "Christian" originally meant, "Little Christs".

Leslie A. Hulberg Née Tomasura

Well in my opinion, we are never going to learn peaceful existence as long as this type of behavior is tolerated. We will never grow as a species if we continue to deny change and develop growth. It will also make our species more vulnerable to extinction due to a lack of diversity in our DNA. If you notice, certain dog breeds are susceptible to certain diseases or weaknesses when they are purebred. The stronger of the dog species are those of mixed breeds. Now I am not saying we should have babies outside our race, though it probably isn’t a bad idea if we want to strengthen our DNA. But what I am saying is that cultural diversity within a community strengthens that community because we learn to live diversely and do or eat things that if we remained “purebreds” we might not ever Learn how to plant, prepare or eat certain foods, we might not learn how to maintain the best healthcare for ourselves or our loved ones because not all medical discoveries come from one race. We might not learn the most effective and efficient ways to build shelter, build vehicles or teach our children the best methods of learning and communication or technology. We will never truly evolve as a species who must change, thrive and grow while remaining strong and resilient and immune to the next threats of infectious diseases or climatic conditions and will become extinct just as those species who could not adapt and survive the changes set forth during their existence.

Iden Charles Siegbert Hill

I live in a supposed 'hot bed' of Liberalism (with a capital L) in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Where up until 1962 legally enforceable race based covenants were an integral part of almost every property title. There has been an ongoing effort, still opposed, to have them removed. The effects of these discriminatory covenants are still plainly visible throughout every neighborhood. So I have little doubt that cristo-fascist Arkansans will prevail. https://mappingprejudice.umn.edu/

Cathy Johnson

They are going to be mighty sad in heaven. The same God that made the whites made the Blacks the Reds the yellows,