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.”
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”?