Residents of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, rallied this week in a show of unity after white supremacist flyers linked to a neo-Nazi organization were distributed throughout the borough over the weekend, sparking outrage and a swift community response.
The flyers, bearing the name "Aryan Freedom Network" in bold red letters, were found sealed in plastic bags on car windshields and front lawns, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. A community member reported that she and her son collected more than 20 flyers along North West Street on Saturday (March 7). The bags also contained what appeared to be breath mints bearing a "K" logo.
The flyers included the white supremacist slogan known as the "14 words" — "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children" — along with the phrase "Distributed randomly without malicious intent." Carlisle Mayor Sean Shultz pushed back on that claim, saying, "White supremacy is inherently dangerous, hateful, and intended to intimidate. It has no place in Carlisle."
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Aryan Freedom Network is a "membership-based neo-Nazi group" based out of De Kalb, Texas. In a statement to CBS 21, the group wrote, "Due to outreach, I can confirm that there are many pro-white residents in the area as well [as] surrounding areas."
On Wednesday (March 11), the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) held a "No Hate in Our State" Town Hall at the Cumberland County Historical Society. Before the meeting, community members gathered for a vigil and countermarch. The rally featured singing and speeches, with attendees holding signs promoting peace and unity.
Dr. Jan Arminio, a Carlisle resident and organizer of the event, said the incident shook her sense of security. "I've pictured Carlisle as a place of safety and a place where people care about each other," she said. "The fact that someone would distribute these messages of hate was really disturbing."
Resident Jake Waybright said the turnout lifted his spirits. "When something like that happens, you want to do something. You want to be with others," he said. "The singing together, the number of people that came out — it really is uplifting."
Not everyone in attendance saw the situation the same way. Resident Michael Swartz questioned whether the flyers were actually distributed by outside actors. "If there's any kind of proof that these flyers are actually left — or if these people just printed them themselves — because that's my theory," he said. "It just seems odd that people would leave flyers on a car in 2026."
Anne Van Dyke of the PHRC emphasized the importance of community response. "It's extremely important that communities respond very clearly that they will never be silent in the face of hate and that they are not intimidated," Van Dyke said.
This incident is not the first of its kind in the region. Last year in nearby Mechanicsburg, business cards promoting "Women of the Ku Klux Klan" were passed out during the borough's Halloween parade, also prompting a community unity rally.
The Carlisle Police Department is asking anyone with video of those responsible or information on the timeframe to submit a tip via Crimewatch or call the department at 717-243-5252. Mayor Shultz has urged residents who find the flyers to not engage with them, share them, or attempt to confront anyone. "Hate-based activity thrives when it goes unreported," he said. "Carlisle will not ignore or tolerate it."