No Jews. No Blacks. No Gays. Meet Return to the Land

A group called Return to the Land (RTTL), founded by Eric Orwoll and Peter Csere, has established a self-described “whites-only” residential community on 160 acres in the Ozark hills near Ravenden, Arkansas, a small town with a population of 423. Launched in October 2023, the settlement explicitly excludes non-whites, Jewish people, non-Christians, and LGBTQ+ individuals, promoting what its founders call “traditional views and European ancestry.” The group’s reported motto, “No Blacks. No Jews. No Gays,” has ignited widespread condemnation for its overt racism, antisemitism, and homophobia.

RTTL operates as a Private Membership Association (PMA), requiring applicants to undergo a vetting process, including video interviews to confirm ethnic identity and alignment with the group’s values. Only those of European descent who identify as Christian or pagan are granted membership, which allows them to purchase shares in an LLC tied to personal plots of land. Orwoll claims this structure sidesteps federal and state anti-discrimination laws, such as the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. However, legal experts and civil rights advocates argue that RTTL’s practices likely violate these laws.

The community, home to about 40 residents, includes cabins, roads, wells, a community center, and a schoolhouse where children are homeschooled. Residents grow their own food and rely on well water, embracing a rural, off-grid lifestyle. Orwoll, a YouTuber with 14,000 subscribers, describes the settlement as a “fortress for the white race” and a model for ethnonationalist living, drawing inspiration from South Africa’s whites-only Orania community. He envisions expanding RTTL to Missouri, near Springfield, and eventually to all 50 states, with additional sites planned in the Ozarks, Appalachia, and the Deep South.

The group’s Telegram and X channels reportedly contain white supremacist references, including the code “1488,” symbolizing the “14 words” slogan and “Heil Hitler.” Orwoll has expressed ambivalence about Adolf Hitler, suggesting mainstream views of the Nazi leader are “one-sided,” while Csere dismissed such references as “a throwback” or “funny comment.” These statements have fueled accusations of neo-Nazism from critics, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which condemned RTTL for reviving “discredited and reprehensible forms of segregation.”

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has stated, “Racial discrimination has no place in Arkansas or anywhere in a free society,” and his office is reviewing potential legal violations, including constitutional concerns. The NAACP and ADL have urged swift action from the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission and local authorities to ensure the region remains inclusive. Rabbi Barry Block of B’nai Israel in Little Rock called the exclusion of non-whites, Muslims, and others “unacceptable, illegal, and unconstitutional.”

Public sentiment on X reflects outrage, with users decrying the community’s discriminatory policies and warning of growing far-right extremism. Historically, similar white supremacist enclaves in the U.S., such as those in the Pacific Northwest or Maine, have struggled with financial issues and infighting, casting doubt on RTTL’s long-term viability.

Sources: Sky News, The Independent