Federal Lawsuit Alleges Discrimination by Arkansas Land Group

A real estate broker filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against a rural Arkansas land group, alleging she was denied the chance to purchase property because of her Jewish ancestry, Black husband, and biracial children. Michelle Walker, who is white and Christian, submitted an application last summer after seeing a listing for land in Ravenden, Arkansas.

She said the group asked detailed questions about her ancestry and religion during the process.

Walker’s attorney, Reed Colfax, said the group’s actions violate federal and state fair housing laws. Walker disclosed that her father’s family arrived in the United States in the 1600s and that her mother’s family were Russian Jewish immigrants. She also noted her husband is of Irish and African descent and that her children share their parents’ mixed racial heritage.

In a July interview, group co-founder Eric Orwoll said the community is open only to white people. "What we’ve done here is establish a place where we have control over who our neighbors are," Orwoll said. " The group describes itself on its website as a private membership association for individuals and families with traditional views and common continental ancestry.

Walker’s application portal later stated she was not accepted because she was "not an ideal fit" for the community. There was no immediate response from Return to the Land to the lawsuit.