After Racist Literature Found, Police Pledge to Continue Protecting 'Rights of All Members of Our Community'

EAST HAMPTON, NY — After racist flyers were found at the end of some driveways in Montauk and on the Long Island Railroad, East Hampton Town Police are assuring residents that their pledge to fight back against intolerance remains strong.

"We had one report of some small papers left at the end of some driveways in Montauk with a website link, and the MTA had the issue with flyers found on the train," said East Hampton Town Police Chief Michael Sarlo.

While the literature had a link to a white supremacist group, Sarlo said reports of "white supremacists" driving through town at night were false.

Addressing the literature, Sarlo said, "We cannot prevent this, as it is protected free speech."

However, he added, "We have always been proactive in discouraging any bias or discrimination in the Town of East Hampton. By speaking out at recent Anti Bias Task Force and Latino advisory committee meetings, I have made it clear that the EHTPD will protect the rights of all members of our community, and vigorously investigate any incident of bias or reported hate crime."

The community, he said, "needs to continue to come together and make sure such acts are not tolerated here in East Hampton, and work together to show that we respect each other."