UPDATE, 1 P.M. Nov. 13 -- This story has been updated with a statement from the director of public safety.

GRAND HAVEN, MI - The international "It's Okay to be White" campaign has shown up in mostly-white Grand Haven with at least a dozen fliers popping up throughout the West Michigan community.

Leon Bakke, who lives on Leggatt Street in the heart of Grand Haven, said he pulled down five of the signs from around his neighborhood Monday morning. His wife pulled grabbed another four or five, and other have been removing them as well, he said.

The Bakkes first noticed the signs Sunday evening, but didn't know what they said. Bakke said he was dismayed by their message when he went to investigate the morning of Nov. 13.

The signs posted on utility poles are the same generic fliers that have shown up from communities throughout North America, from East Grand Rapids to Edmonton, Alberta.

"I guess a lot of people would be OK with it," Bakke said. "To me, it just reinforces the image of Grand Haven as all-white exclusive city."

Bakke moved to Grand Haven from Muskegon 10 years ago and he wishes there was more diversity in the Ottawa County town.

The fliers violate the city's sign ordinance and "violators may be ticketed," according to a press release from Grand Haven Department of Public Safety Director Jeff Hawke.

"While we are sworn to protect everyone's right to free speech, we won't ever support speech that attempts to divide us or that promotes racism," Hawke is quoted in the press release. "Everyone is welcome in Grand Haven and there's no room for hatred."

Hawke noted that fliers left in other communities included a link to a "white supremacist blog," but no such link was on the Grand Haven fliers.

Messages seeking comment were left with Grand Haven City Manager Pat McGinnis and Mayor Geri McCaleb.

The phrase "It's Okay to be White" has been posted as part of a coordinated effort that originated in an Internet chat room and have been showing up around the country since Halloween.

The signs were posted around the city of East Grand Rapids the weekend of Nov. 4.

Anyone with information about who posted the signs in Grand Haven is asked to call the Department of Public Safety at (616) 842-3640 or Ottawa County Silent Observer at (877) 88-SILENT.