SOUTHPORT, Ind. -- A woman in Southport says she was shocked this week when she noticed a racist sign in a neighboring front yard.
The sign contained a strongly worded message calling for the area's Chin refugee population to stay away.
Some of the first Chin refugees from Burma to settle in Indiana settled in Southport. Since then, thousands have joined them in the area. But this week, some in the Chin community felt the opposite of Hoosier hospitality.
"It's just incredible that in 2016 there are still people out there that have so much hate in them for a group of people," Laura Wilkes said.
Wilkes was appalled when she saw a sign in her neighbor's yard reading "No More Chin." Wilkes made some corrections, with hers reading "no more hate" and "love your neighbor as yourself."
Wednesday morning, though, Wilkes noticed the sign had been changed back.
"I was just so angry and disappointed and sad, and I almost just couldn't think straight," she said.
Since the sign showed up, the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana has gotten involved.
"That's simply not something we are going to tolerate occurring,
said the agency's Amy Nelson.
Nelson said the Fair Housing center contacted the Realtor, who didn't know about the sign.
When local Chin leaders found out, they said at first they were offended, but they do not believe the sentiment of intolerance is widespread.
"I think this is an individual or a small group of people," said Peter Thawnghmung. "It's definitely not the city of Southport."
