At least one person in Bucksport appears to be trying to start a white supremacy group, and is distributing fliers targeting local young adults. Local police and the Maine Attorney General's Office are monitoring the situation.

Bucksport Police Chief Sean Geagan says a concerned citizen saw a flier for the so-called "Bucksport Bay White Youth Pride Party" at the post office, and brought it to the police.

"It is an open investigation at this time, which we're keeping an close eye on and working with other agencies, including the Attorney General's office," Geagan says. "It's something we will continue to keep open to make that sure that all the rules pertaining to the freedom of speech are followed and it does not lead into any violent or hate-type crimes."

Police have been aware of the efforts to form the white supremacy group since April 21, Geagan says. Flyers have appeared at other locations in the downtown area of the town, which has about 5,000 residents.

"They're trying to organize a group and they've set some requirements as far as age," Geagan says. "Basically what they're trying to do is get a group together to symbolize what they believe in. The age requirements that they have on their flyer are from 15 to 35, so it's a younger age group."

The flyer depicts swastikas along with text. It says: "Our goal is simple: To reclaim U.S.A. soil to the white race and as a white nation only. We move to impress and empower Maine's white youth through knowledge and public expression."

Geagan says there was talk of the group holding an event last weekend, but as far as he can tell, nothing transpired.

"We've had word -- a rumor -- that they were supposed to have an activity and we did not see that transpire yet," he says. "If they do have an activity, there's certain rules as far as the public goes and things that they can and can't do as far as impeding the flow of traffic, pedestrian traffic, you know, any vulgar, disorderly language won't be tolerated. Those are the basic rules they have to go by." Geagan notes the group may meet privately.

Jim Boothby, superintendent of the school district that includes Bucksport, says no sign of white supremacist activity has appeared in the Bucksport schools.

"We're certainly aware of the flyer that was posted, that was brought to our attention," he says. "We have not seen anything within our schools. Certainly anything that was listed on the flyer for white supremacy or hate crimes doesn't fit within the walls of our schools or doesn't meet with our mission or vision statement."

The Maine Attorney General's office says it has been contacted by the Bucksport Police and also points out that it works with student groups through the Civil Rights program to steer students away from hate groups.

"The local middle school in Bucksport has a civil rights team that's very active and the high school has one that was dormant this year and the high school has actually been in touch with us in the past couple of days to try to resurrect their civil rights team," says Kate Simmons, a spokeswoman for the Attorney General's office. "Largely what we see in Maine is that when someone does act from a place of intolerance and racism, that the local community springs up in strong opposition."

According to the nonprofit Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks and exposes the activities of hate groups, there are two organized hate groups already in existence in Maine. The map on the Center's Web site indicates there are 66 hate groups of various kinds in Texas, which is the state with the largest number.

In an interview with the Bangor Daily News, the Bucksport group's organizer, who identified himself as "Proprietor Mutt," said the group is nonviolent and has about 40 members. He is quoted as saying he is reaching out to youth in an effort to solve problems such as "rape and homicide statistics that are vastly associated with people of color and the gross abuses of the welfare and tax systems."

He did not respond to emails requesting interviews with MPBN.