Ku Klux Klan Flyers Spur New York Investigation

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says an investigation is being launched into the distribution of Ku Klux Klan materials in several counties across the state this year. The governor said Friday that he has directed state police to investigate white supremacy flyers being distributed in a number of communities, most recently in Oneida County in central New York. CBS affiliate WTVH reports the flyers have been distributed three times in the Syracuse-area county since May.

The Oneida County Sheriff's office says packets containing printed information about the United Northern & Southern Knights of the Ku Klux Klan were left at the end of multiple driveways in Rome, New York, sometime between 4 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Resident Mark Ebensberger told the station he found a plastic bag in his driveway Thursday morning that had been weighted with sand. Inside, he found KKK propaganda fliers, which read in part, "Neighborhood watch... You can sleep tonight knowing the Klan is awake!"

Community members told PIX11 News the packets distributed in nearby Westmoreland in May contained candy bars and were left in the early morning hours in areas where children board their school buses. Deputies say residents there also reported finding weighted Ziploc bags with the flyers inside them soliciting membership in the United Northern & Southern Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.