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‘It’s Okay To Be White’ fliers posted around East GR

Posted at 1:39 PM, Nov 05, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-05 23:19:55-05

EAST GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Residents awoke Sunday morning to find objectionable fliers posted around their community.

Fliers read "It's Okay To Be White" in several different formats. Some of them contained pictures of President Trump.

"It definitely felt like our personal space was violated," said resident Karen Zivi. "For me the real issue is about the message that it’s spreading.”

Fliers were found posted on utility poles and trees as well as over "Black Lives Matter" signs and being left under the windshield wipers of every vehicle parked in the area of Lake Drive SE, Laurel Avenue SE, Plymouth Avenue SE and John Collins Park in East Grand Rapids.

"It was actively blocking a message that I believe in, which is 'kindness is everything,'and putting up a message of hate," Zivi said. "And doing it in the middle of the night when no one is around to have a conversation about the issue. ”

Kris Pachla also spoke to FOX 17.

“We want to be an inclusive community, we shouldn’t make anyone feel uncomfortable and certainly those signs are making people feel they are not welcome here in East Grand Rapids.”

She also brought up the importance of conversation.

“I welcome conversations. I think it’s important to have conversations. I think it might say something about your message if you're doing things in the dead of night when nobody can confront you about anything.”

The fliers all have been removed.