Recently, news articles spotlighted the discriminatory actions of the Return to the Land organization when the group attempted to build a housing development in Arkansas for only individuals with traditional views and European ancestry, essentially a whites only community that would violate fair housing laws. The website for Return to the Land states that they are a private membership organization and as such the group is wrongfully claiming a legal exemption in Arkansas for private associations and religious groups that offer housing to their members.

My legislation clarifies that under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act bona fide private or fraternal organizations should not include organizations that restrict their membership based on race, color, national origin, or ancestry for the purpose of denying housing, employment or public accommodations. This bill would ensure that housing developments like the one in Arkansas have no place here.

Although the Return to the Land organization’s housing development was in Arkansas, the group’s website notes plans for expansion into two Appalachian regions that would cover parts of Pennsylvania. It is critical that we strengthen existing law to prevent Return to the Land and other organizations from taking advantage of legal loopholes to develop discriminatory housing.

Please join me by co-sponsoring this legislation to prevent white nationalist groups from developing housing in our Commonwealth.