Hampton Police Investigate Anti-Immigrant Flyers

The Hampton Police Department is investigating anti-immigrant signs that were posted on the doors of several Hispanic-owned businesses early Tuesday morning, August 13, 2024. The flyers stated, “Illegal immigrant hunting permit. No bag limit.

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Police Chief Mark Morrison said the department is taking the matter very seriously and working to identify those responsible. Once the investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Franklin County Attorney. Larry Sailer, chair of the Franklin County Republican Party, condemned the actions, calling them a hate crime.

He said the sentiments on the posters do not reflect the views of Republicans. “It’s certainly nothing to promote the Republican Party. It does just the opposite,” Sailer said.

He visited Mi Tierra, one of the affected businesses, to show support. “The city police are doing everything they can to find this person. It’s just totally uncalled for.

We don’t need division. We need to work together.”

Sailer noted that the restaurant’s business was thriving despite the incident. Staff at Mi Tierra confirmed that local police spoke with them about the signs, which were discovered Tuesday evening.

Hampton police investigate hate crime

Rita Hart, chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, also denounced the signs. “It’s shocking to see that somebody feels comfortable putting up a flyer that talks about hunting people, reducing human beings to the same level as animals,” Hart said.

She called for unity and for people to stand against such rhetoric. Janette Acolt, a Hampton resident who works at La Luz, a Latino community organization, expressed her dismay and fear. “We are taking it as a hate crime.

I think it is a hate crime. We feel threatened,” she said. Acolt, who grew up in Hampton, described the message as deeply unsettling.

“I was scared because of the wording. It said hunting like we are animals or something,” she said. Hampton Mayor Steve Birdsall condemned the flyers, expressing disappointment that such an incident occurred in his town.

“It’s not something you want to happen in your town. But it does happen around here,” he remarked. The incident has galvanized Hampton’s Latino community, which plans to stand strong in the face of intimidation.

The investigation continues as Hampton police work to ensure justice and community safety in the wake of these disturbing events.