Reports of an Arkansas-based whites only community called ‘Return to the Land’ possibly moving to Springfield have circulated for weeks, but some media outlets have learned that the group doesn’t currently have plans to expand into the area.
Eric Orwoll, president of the Return to the Land Private Membership Organization, has told the media that the group’s main focus is building up their pre-existing Arkansas communities; however, they are exploring possible plans to expand into Missouri.
Orwoll says the group is actually considering a plot of land due north of St. Louis, stating that its affordable, its central location makes for a good gathering place, and how close it is in relation to the airport.
When asked for his response to the group being called “racist”, Orwoll refuted the remarks, saying that his community is not harmful towards and does not wish harm on other groups or races.
Orwoll stated that he didn’t object to others integrating other groups into their communities and that he thought that “everyone should be free to live how they see fit.”
Springfield officials and residents say that what they previously said in response to the group’s perceived expansion plans still holds true, that there’s no place in Springfield for such “a divisive and discriminatory vision.”