Did the KKK really think they’d be allowed to adopt a mile-long stretch of highway along Georgia State Route 515?
I mean… Really? Can you imagine driving down that stretch of road and reading, “This Highway Adopted by the Ku Klux Klan”? I’m a blonde-haired, blue-eyed freckled white girl and even I would turn off that road and head back North ASAP upon seeing that bullshit!
Fortunately, the State of Georgia saw the potential problems with the situation. According to CNN:
“The impact of erecting a sign naming an organization which has a long-rooted history of civil disturbance would cause a significant public concern,” he wrote. “Impacts include safety of the traveling public, potential social unrest, driver distraction or interference with the flow of traffic.”
Of course, the KKK is none too pleased at their denial. They’ve even stated that if they were denied, they would approach the American Civil Liberties Union.
“All we want to do is adopt a highway,” Chambers said Monday. “We’re not doing it for publicity. We’re doing it to keep the mountains beautiful. People throwing trash out on the side of the road … that ain’t right.”
I guess it’s nice to see racists wanting to do something good for the world for once… Oh wait:
“We’re not racists,” Chambers said. “We just want to be with white people. If that’s a crime, then I don’t know. It’s all right to be black and Latino and proud, but you can’t be white and proud. I don’t understand it.”
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Yeah, I’m certain the ACLU will be chomping at the bit to take on the KKK’s case after that one.
What do you think? Does the KKK have the right to adopt a highway like anyone else?
Should it matter what the ideology of the group if they’re doing something “good”?
“They’ve even stated that if they were denied, they would approach the American Civil Liberties Union.”
Oh wow 🙂 As said above, I’d have no trouble with them donating money, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to prevent hate groups from advertising.
I grew up in Union County, GA, where this took place, and still have family there. I’m familiar with the sorts of attitudes that are common in that area. (When “the old n****r graveyard” is a well-known navigational landmark, you know you’re in a backward area.) That being said, I still support the right of the KKK to participate in government programs, just like everyone else. If you don’t want the KKK advertising in your community, then you should apply social pressure to the members of the KKK. Instead of trying to take a procedural approach to keep them out… Read more »
Exactly. Something to keep in mind about hate-speech vs. freedom, a saying that has stuck with me: “If you’re not defending something you find absolutely idiotic, hateful, and appalling, you’re not really defending free speech–you’re just defending stuff you like.”
the KKK actually HAS been allowed to adopt a highway before. They tried to adopt the Rosa Parks highway in one of the southern states, and after some controversy they were allowed to adopt it… but the highway name was changed to something not having to do with civil rights. They shortly lost their adoption rights afterward when no one showed up to clean it. True story.
The issue is the advertisement that goes with the highway adoption. This turns the “good” act, into a business transaction including advertisement. Hate groups should not be allowed to advertise through government programs. However, if they want to donate the money anonymously that would surely demonstrate the sincerity of their gloriously altruistic act (read with some sarcasm)
This.
That works right up until the inevitable quesiton “Who gets to define what a ‘hate group’ is?”
Is a private golf club that doesn’t admit blacks a hate group? How about a fraternal order like the Elks, which don’t allow women? How about a radical environmentalist group like ELF?
This.
The state either needs money, or it doesn’t. If you aren’t prepared to accept the consequences of asking for donations, don’t ask for them.
Last I checked, adopt-a-highway programs involved private groups donating money to pay for road maintenance.
Why is anyone turning down free money for road maintenance during a time of shrinking government budgets?
Besides, aren’t we all better off if groups like this spend their money on highway maintenance, rather than whatever else it migh go to?
[quote]“We’re not racists,” Chambers said.[/quote]
Oh, PLEASE … Give me a break! Yeah, and I’ve got a bridge to sell you. These people never cease to disgust me.
Of course, the ACLU will defend them. They always scrape the bottom of the barrel. They’ve even defended NAMBLA for free.
“Of course, the ACLU will defend them. They always scrape the bottom of the barrel. They’ve even defended NAMBLA for free.”
The ACLU defends civil liberties (hence the name). They defend civil liberties for everyone, because if only popular opinions have freedom, then it’s not freedom at all.
You do know that the ACLU often defends Christians, right?
I’m not too familiar with the adopt-a-highway program. If it’s run by the government, the government is required to treat all private law-abiding groups equally. Discrimination against the KKK can and will quickly turn into discrimination against atheists, then Arab-Americans, then political action groups, etc. etc.