Springfield Rejects RTTL Whites-Only Community Plans

Return to the Land (RTTL), an Arkansas-based group, has expressed interest in establishing whites-only communities near Springfield, Missouri, explicitly excluding people of color, Jewish people, and LGBTQ individuals. This proposal has been met with strong condemnation from Springfield city officials, the local NAACP, state representatives, and organizations like the Anti-Defamation League, who emphasize that such segregationist initiatives violate the city's values of inclusion and equity. Local leaders and residents assert that racially exclusive developments are illegal and incompatible with Springfield's diverse community. Missouri lawmakers have vowed to investigate RTTL's activities if the group attempts to move forward, calling for potential action from the attorney general. Community leaders continue to urge public opposition to RTTL's plans and reaffirm their commitment to diversity. Despite RTTL's claims of cultural preservation, broad consensus remains against the group's divisive ideology.