In October 2023, a group called Return to the Land established its first “Whites only community” in the Ozark Mountains, Arkansas, with plans for four more sites, including another in the Ozarks and two in Appalachia. They describe themselves as a “private membership association” advocating for “European heritage communities,” aiming to create a white ethnostate with the ability to legally exclude individuals based on race, religion, and sexual orientation.
Co-founder Eric Orwoll encourages the building of white towns, reflecting a broader movement among various groups pursuing similar goals of establishing white ethnostates. Historical precedents include the Northwest Imperative from the 1970s and attempts in places like Leith, North Dakota, and Springfield, Maine. Despite these efforts, there has been significant community resistance.
These initiatives are connected to a rising trend in white nationalism, which often fuels acts of extreme violence. The “great replacement theory,” which posits that white people are under threat, has inspired violent acts, including mass shootings. While some communities have successfully opposed these movements, legal reviews of Return to the Land’s actions by authorities are ongoing, as they navigate the boundaries of legality concerning racism in society.
