High Court Sides with Klan in Adopted Highway Program

[rainbow4321]

http://www.reuters.com/printerFriendlyPopup.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=7281896


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court let stand on Monday a ruling that the Ku Klux Klan white supremacist group can take part in Missouri's "Adopt-A-Highway" program in which volunteers pick up trash along the road and the state puts up a sign thanking the group.

Without comment, the high court rejected Missouri's appeal of a U.S. appeals court ruling that declared the state had violated the Klan's constitutional free-speech rights by rejecting its request to adopt a portion of a highway.

Missouri cited the Klan's history of violence and said the group's application showed it "denies membership on the basis of race, color or national origin."

"Given the KKK's reputation as a hate group, it is reasonable to anticipate that taunts, jeers, insults or objects would be hurled at KKK members picking up trash near the road," they said. The officials said some people might intentionally dump trash along the road to create more work for Klan members. "The Klan's involvement could lead to more trash along the highway, completely defeating the purpose of the program."

[Hobarticus]

1. Talk about a lose-lose situation for Missouri...

Sounds like Missouri's thinking of their safety and of the success of the highway program, rather than trying to squelch their rights to free speech, but whatever.

[rkc3]

2. If I only had a garbage truck, I'd travel to MO this afternoon to find

their section of the highway.

[Briarius]

3. As terrible as the KKK is

at least they're doing something good here. I don't see why Missouri wouldn't let them do this. Get them out into the light, shame them. And if they don't keep it clean, publicize the heck out of kicking them out of the program.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[Drifter]

13. I don't think they actually clean the highway ...

I think they do nothing more than provide funds in exchange for signage.

Cheers
Drifter

[Turbineguy]

5. Sorry Bubba,

I cannot attend the cross-burning this evening. I am rather exhausted from picking up trash today!

[Ian David]

7. This will do wonders for Missouri's reputation

As people are driving through (can't afford to fly over) they'll pass a sign proudly proclaiming the KKK to be valued members of Missouri's community.

Oh, yeah.

Heartland.

Family values.

Morals voters.

Tell me another one, Missouri.

[Telly Savalas]

23. Ever driven I-70 from KC to St. Louis?

All you see are billboards advertising adult bookstores and cigarette outlets.

[Krupskaya]

6. I'm fine with them participating.

And I'm also fine with the State of Missouri deciding that whatever stretch of highway the KKK gets to pick up should be renamed "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway."

Some other state did something like that, but I can't remember where it was, and the KKK pulled out.

[MARALE]

11. LOL

That put a smile on my face this morning!

[TheDebbieDee]

16. They planned to do that here in Missouri, several years ago -

in an attempt to foil the KKK's plans for the "Adopt-a-Highway" program. I don't know what happened, Missouri Dept of Highways must have had to change their plans or something.

This battle in Missouri has been going on for several years, now.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

8. I am most happy the USSC did this....why do we as liberals keep

trying to sweep the racism of the RED STATE POLICY under the mat? Don't we realize if we propel these people front and center for their trues agenda, we will be far better off?

[msanthrope]

9. I can't wait to see what gets dumped on this stretch of highway. n/t

[Dufaeth]

10. They renamed the road Rosa Parks Highway

I was in college there when it was going on. Now, if only Nashville(where i am now) would do something similar with the stretch of road that the Nathan Bedford Forest statue is on.

[AllegroRondo]

12. I drive past it every day

Its a stretch of I-55 just south of St Louis.

From what I heard, the klan didn't bother to do their part in keeping up the highway, so they were dropped from the program and their signs taken down.

[w4rma]

14. When the KKK doesn't pick up the trash (again) they'll lose their highway

They did this in some other state also. They won their case to be able to adopt the highway and then they never kept it clean so the state took it away.

[Inland]

18. Yeah, I don't expect the KKK to actually keep its end of the deal.

Frankly, I'd like them to keep busy.

[phasev]

15. Next thing you know

next thing you know Al Qaeda will be part of Adopt-A-Highway.

Crazy times...

[KT2000]

17. Ha! Ha! Hope they are assigned

the most heavily pesticide-sprayed section of highway! Better the klan members go home with that stuff all over them than the Boy Scouts.

[Neoma]

19. Missouri lawyers had argued that a sign marking

the KKK stretch of road could lead to more dumping, and could endanger highway workers mistaken for Klan members.

---
Haha,yeah people run over them.

[SemperEadem]

20. well.. that section of I-55 should be turned into a trash dump then

give them something to do, since they insisted upon this... and if they're not out there everyday picking up the trash, then they should be thrown out of the program.

I just watched Rosewood last night and I"m not in a very 'loving' mood with regards to those types of homosapiens.

[Dickie Flatt]

21. I'm with the KKK on this one.

Well, not with them. You know what I mean.

[Neoma]

22. link

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/outrage/rosapark.htm