A real estate broker has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that an organization denied her the opportunity to purchase land in an Arkansas development because of her Jewish ancestry and because she has a Black husband and biracial children. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court in Arkansas on behalf of Michelle Walker, names Return to the Land, a development whose owners require personal confirmation that applicants are white before acceptance, along with its Ozarks chapter and five officers.
Allegations of Discrimination
The lawsuit claims Return to the Land is a white nationalist organization that violates federal and state fair housing and civil rights acts. It states that the founders are "explicitly attempting to establish an all-white community" and believe in white genetic superiority, promote the idea of a Jewish plot to eliminate the white race, and advocate for segregated white communities to avoid "white genocide."
Historically, Blacks and other minorities faced restrictions on buying or renting homes due to racial covenants and redlining practices. Walker, a real estate broker from St. Louis, applied to buy land in Ravenden, Arkansas, about 150 miles northeast of Little Rock, due to its below-market price. During the application process, she was questioned about her ancestry, religion, and family. Walker is white and belongs to a Christian church, with Jewish ancestry on her mother's side.
She is represented by the Relman Colfax law firm, the Legal Defense Fund, and Legal Aid of Arkansas. Return to the Land did not respond to a request for comment. On its website, the organization describes itself as a private membership association for individuals with traditional views and common continental ancestry, with chapters across the United States.
Broader Implications
Following reports that Return to the Land was considering a whites-only community near Springfield, Missouri, the city council stated in a Facebook post last July that there was no place for such a discriminatory vision. In April, Pennsylvania's state House passed a bill by a 101-100 vote to block whites-only housing communities, prompted by the organization's expansion plans. The legislation now awaits Senate action.
