Missouri has been embroiled in a controversy in recent weeks that remarkably resembles a history that many people believed had long since been forgotten. An organization known as Return to the Land (RTTL), which was founded in rural Arkansas and is currently planning an expansion close to Springfield, has a very clear and unquestionably contentious goal: to create racially exclusive “whites-only” communities.
RTTL has presented itself as a haven for Americans who cherish “traditional views and European ancestry,” under the leadership of Eric Orwoll. Orwoll maintains that the group is not hateful or violent. However, the group is reinstating forms of segregation that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was designed to eliminate by excluding anyone who is LGBTQ+, non-white, or non-Christian. These acts are not only out of date, but they are also highly divisive, especially in light of America in 2025.
RTTL asserts that it can lawfully exclude anyone it wants without breaking anti-discrimination laws by utilizing a legal framework known as a Private Membership Association (PMA). Legal experts and civil rights activists both strongly disagree with Orwoll’s assertion that this designation enables him to circumvent the Fair Housing Act and the Civil Rights Act. “Racial discrimination has no place in a free society,” said Attorney General Tim Griffin of Arkansas, in a statement that was strikingly clear. A formal review of RTTL’s legal framework has been initiated by his office.
Profile Summary of Person in Focus
| Name | Eric Orwoll |
|---|---|
| Role | Co-founder of Return to the Land (RTTL) |
| Nationality | American |
| Group Type | Private Membership Association (PMA) |
| Ideology | Ethnonationalist, Anti-Multicultural |
| Core Beliefs | European ancestry, traditional values |
| Known For | Founding whites-only communities |
| Location | Ravenden, Arkansas |
| Expansion Target | Springfield, Missouri |
| Public Controversy | Racism, antisemitism, anti-LGBT+ |
| Reference | The Hill Report |
The Missouri location under consideration is a component of a larger strategy to duplicate RTTL’s Arkansas model, which presently occupies more than 150 acres and is inhabited by 40 people. In addition to residences, this compound has internal roads, a community center, a schoolhouse, and water wells. It portrays a picture-perfect rural way of life. However, underneath that serene exterior is a clear message of exclusion.
According to Orwoll, RTTL is merely providing a choice for those who feel overburdened by multicultural integration. “You desire a white country? In one of his recruitment videos, he declares, “Build a white town.” When combined with online initiatives that provide financial incentives to white couples with children in an effort to promote racial homogeneity, the message’s simplicity belies a profoundly discriminatory undertone.
The political establishment in Missouri has reacted with firmness and promptness. Part of Springfield is represented by Democratic State Representative Betsy Fogle, who stated that her district “is too beautiful to be ruined by a worldview so ugly.” Her sentiment is indicative of a larger dissatisfaction that a movement so overtly discriminatory could even try to gain traction in a contemporary American state. That worry was echoed by fellow representative Jeremy Dean, who pointed out that Missouri’s advancements since its racist past cannot be undone.
The way that RTTL actively promotes its image as a healthy retreat on social media by sharing pictures of wildlife, construction updates, and even illustrations from children’s books is especially concerning. Under the pretense of freedom, privacy, and rural independence, the group has been able to attract attention and recruit new members thanks to this well-thought-out digital strategy. However, activists can see right through the advertising. “It isn’t a freedom issue,” an NAACP spokesperson stated. “It’s a nostalgia-driven segregation issue.”
By focusing on the language of tradition and autonomy, RTTL has reached a psychological area where cultural anxiety and economic uncertainty collide. This story gives some people a reassuring sense of control. The Anti-Defamation League has already denounced it as an attempt to resurrect “discredited and reprehensible” ideologies, but for most, it represents a risky step backward.
This situation is particularly concerning because it is rapidly resembling ethnonationalist trends from other areas. Similar “intentional communities” founded on racial or religious purity have emerged throughout Europe. Although these enclaves are frequently presented as lifestyle options or cultural retreats, they are fundamentally extremely exclusive businesses with significant societal repercussions.
The consequences are especially dire in Missouri’s case. Setting a precedent that might inspire similar developments in other states is possible if RTTL is able to successfully open a new outpost close to Springfield. Legal experts and grassroots activists have made strong statements in response to that possibility, seeing it as a fundamental threat to democracy and a violation of civil rights.
Another level of concern is raised by the group’s online rhetoric. In his contentious historical interpretations, Orwoll has made empathetic allusions to Adolf Hitler, whom he described as a “charismatic leader who advocated for his people.” Despite RTTL’s meticulously maintained image as a peaceful haven, statements such as these have prompted watchdog groups to label it a hate group.
The pushback has been immediate and motivating for Missourians who value equality, inclusion, and the prospect of a shared future. Thousands of people have joined campaigns like #StopRTTL on social media sites like Reddit, TikTok, and Instagram in an effort to raise awareness and put pressure on local authorities. Celebrities and influencers, such as vocal actors and political analysts, have utilized their platforms to draw attention to the problem, transforming what could have been a peaceful land purchase into a significant cultural event.
Local leaders are organizing in opposition to RTTL’s goals through strategic community organizing. Especially in and around Springfield, town halls, legal petitions, and educational campaigns are already in progress. These initiatives are declarations of shared values rather than merely responses. They contend that the restoration of racial segregation should not be a part of Missouri’s identity, especially in 2025.
