Ku Klux Klan invitation to join delivered to doorstep

A South Austin neighborhood was targeted for recruiting by the Ku Klux Klan. FOX 7 spoke to one of the homeowners who got one of the flyers. "Yesterday afternoon I opened the door," he said asking to remain anonymous.

He said he put it aside, not thinking anything of it. When he finally opened the plastic bag it came in, he pulled out a pamphlet that invited him to join the KKK. "It's something that no one wants to see when they open the door, especially me, being a minority black man," he says, adding, "you can't explain it, it's shocking."

He has five children and his wife is Hispanic, "It's scary. Now I don't know if I'm going to be vandalized with my vehicle or someone is going to be watching."

His is one of at least 3 homes where the flyers were left. "They came around here because they figure it's Middle Class working people around here, and they may find a couple of good old boys looking for something like that to get into," he says of his serene, neighborhood, "it's a good area to target, they aren't going to the inner city."

FOX 7 called the North Carolina number on the front of the pamphlet. A voice mail answers, the message was filled with racial expletives. "You've got these elders teaching these kids to hate others and it's not right. Let them choose for themselves whether or not they want to hate a minority or a Mexican." He says referring to how the group indoctrinates their younger prospective members. 

The President of Austin's N.A.A.C.P. chapter Nelson Linder says because the KKK is dying, they are desperate to recruit new members, and will use any means possible. "These people are very smart, give them credit, the national atmosphere, the timing is perfect, not just the PR. The mood of country, we are very divided," Linder says. Because of that divide, he adds, there are susceptible people out there. "Let's talk about who they really are, what they stand for. People don't read that, they don't see the history, the murders, the lynchings, the killings. We don't tell that to kids today so their minds are open to that kind of stuff."

The kinds of stuff the man who got the flyer says he would never teach his kids, the kinds of stuff that, today has made him afraid for safety - and the safety of his family. "I have a productive, peaceful life, home, job, family, and it's the way I like it. I don't want any trouble."

The Austin Police Department has confirmed to Fox 7 that another resident who received a flyer did file a report. Their gang unit is investigating. And because of the nature of pamphlet's wording, APD's Hate Crime Task Force is also investigating. It's not clear how many flyers were left behind and who was responsible.