Jury awards $2.5 million judgment against KKK

[JohnnyLib2]

Source: WAVE 3 TV Louisville KY



BRANDENBURG, Ky. (AP) - A central Kentucky jury has ordered the Ku Klux Klan, a Klan leader and two former followers to pay $2.5 million to a teenager who was beaten by a pair of white supremacists at a county fair in 2006.

Read more: www.wave3.com/global/story.asp?s=9354327

---

[geomon666]

1. That kid won't see a dime.

And hopefully, he'll leave the state because sooner or later, they will kill him if they get the chance. You can bet on it.

[kestrel91316]

2. He SHOULD leave. But he also should have a good attorney

in KY work to seize the KKK assets until the judgment has been satisfied.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

3. Doesn't matter if full or partial or no judgment is recovered

If you look up Southern Poverty Law Center you'll see that the Klan members end up losing their homes, etc.

It's really the only way to go after them besides in civil law, right?

[Tutonic]

4. OK so he inherits three or four lean to trailers.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

5. ROFLMAO! nt

[struggle4progress]

6. kudos to the SPLC

:dem:

[I Have A Dream]

30. Absolutely! They're a wonderful organization.

I donate to them monthly.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. Bankrupt them!!!

[Divine Discontent]

8. yay! they can take their property! :) eom

[progressoid]

12. A rustty Bronco and a double-wide.

[comrade snarky]

13. If that's all they have, take it.

Bankrupt them. Force them to sell everything they have to pay this kid.

Let em live under a bridge like all the other trolls.

[MarianJack]

26. Thanks to the bush mis-administration,...

...there are already too many veterans under those bridges.

Hopefully, Prez Obama will solve this crisis so the kkk can go where they belong.

[Divine Discontent]

17. lots and lots and lots of high dollar assault weapons, however. :)

[du_grad]

9. Here is the link from the SPLC

http://www.splcenter.org/news/item.jsp?aid=345

Great organization. I encourage all DU-ers to donate to this fine organization, which champions victims of hate crimes. My husband and I have donated to them monthly for many years. Dees is Morris Dees, one of the founders of SPLC. From the URL above:

"During the trial, the SPLC demonstrated how the IKA and Edwards fostered an atmosphere of hate and violence. The IKA's compound in Dawson Springs, Ky., is home to Nordic Fest, an annual music festival that brings together Klansmen, skinheads and members of other violent hate groups.

Former Klansman Kale Kelly testified at the trial that Edwards instructed him to kill Dees during the SPLC's lawsuit against the Aryan Nations in the late 1990s. Kelly said he planned to track Dees in Idaho, where the trial was held, and that Edwards would supply the weapon. But in April 1999, within days of the plot being executed, an FBI undercover operation foiled the plan. Kelly served time in federal prison on weapons charges. Edwards was never charged.

Over the past 25 years, the SPLC has crippled some of the nation's largest and most violent hate groups by helping victims of racial violence sue for monetary damages. Its victories include a $7 million verdict against the United Klans of America in 1987 for the lynching of Michael Donald in Mobile, Ala.; a $12.4 million verdict against the White Aryan Resistance in 1990 for the brutal murder of an Ethiopian student in Portland; and a $6.3 million verdict against the Aryan Nations in 2000 that forced the organization to give up its 20-acre compound in Idaho."

[varkam]

10. One word comes to mind:

p0wn3d.

While such a judgment is not likely to make a dent in the rampant racism and bigotry that still goes on (esp. in the South), it's always nice to see that there's still at least some justice in this world. Would that this would end the KKK for good, but even if it bankrupts them there's still going to be more bigots and small-minded assholes who live in small worlds with small gods to take up the banner of hatred and division.

In short, fuck 'em.

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

16. Tougher court action could deter some violence

If the courts really crack down on hate-based violence through prioritized investigations and more ferocious prosecution, we may at least be able to discourage some creeps from pulling the trigger, even if it doesn't destroy their bigoted attitudes.

[Seldona]

11. Great news!

I hope this enables this teenager to get the hell out of there, if the teen hasn't already. Take their property and sell it. It is nowhere near making this teen whole, but it is a start.

[Grown2Hate]

14. And if they have no valuable property to speak of, seize what they

DO have and BURN IT. It'd be put to better use anyhow.

[Divine Discontent]

18. guns aren't cheap.

[man4allcats]

15. Yes!

I would like to see these kinds of judgments handed down 25 or 30 times a month or more every month throughout the United States. If these ignorant racist pigs are too stupid to understand their beliefs are garbage, then so be it. Simply make it too expensive for them to practice those beliefs. And of course, the penalties shouldn't stop in Civil Court. In addition to devastating monetary losses resulting from lawsuits, these assholes need to be doing hard time for their crimes. And when I say hard time, I don't mean two to five. Assault brought on by hate crimes should be good for twenty-five to life easy. Put me on the jury. Please!

[Faux pas]

19. I saw the head guy (sorry don't remember his name) of the

Southern Poverty Law Center on the news this morning. He said the one of the main objectives of the law suit was to bankrupt the kkk. I wonder if 2.5 mil will do it? I can only hope.

Active hate groups in the US:
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/hate.jsp

[JohnnyLib2]

20. Main objective =bankrupt the KKK. That's correct, thrust of lawsuit.

The Klan leader had made threats against the SPLC prosecutor earlier.

Hopefully this conviction, in a rural county in Kentucky, will shine light on some dark corners.

[Faux pas]

21. Big bright inescapable lights. I really don't believe that

freedom of speech should cover hate groups who incite the ignorant and bigoted to commit acts of violence. These groups have gotten away with way too much for far too long imho. Time to clean them out and close them down.

[and-justice-for-all]

22. I would tell'em, no thanks on the cash..

just put'em in prison for attempted murder.

[barbtries]

34. no thanks on the cash?

that money can be put to GOOD use. hand it over.

[fasttense]

23. I wonder if the Southern Poverty Law Center ever considered suing

Rush Limpballs, Savage and other hate talk radio hosts for encouraging violence against other people? I mean all you hear on the radio here in the South is hate talk. The hate they spew about minorities really does incite people to violence. I wonder if SPLC could bankrupt them as well?

[kenichol]

24. I've wondered the same thing

We know that we don't have the 'freedom' to yell 'fire' in a crowded movie theatre; I don't believe we have the right to incite people to violence against other people either.

[Kajsa]

25. The SPLC are my heroes.

They received numerous death threats prior to and
during the trial.

Morries Dees, a co founder and Chief Trial Counsel
received the most, yet his main concern was for the
safety of his clients and staff members.


Thank you, Mr. Dees and the SPLC for combating hate
at the risk of your own lives.


:) :toast:

[bronxiteforever]

27. K & R for Justice

[JohnnyLib2]

28. Here is a longer story on this case.

www.courier-journal.com/article/20081115/NEWS01/811150476&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

[dcindian]

29. The KKK is a terrorist organization and should be treated as such.

I am all for drones and push button justice for them.

[pberq]

31. Kick & Nominated

[sofa king]

32. Oh sure, the Klan members will just reach into their trust funds and investment portfolios....

...Or the old mason jar of moonshine that they all pay their ten cent dues into every month.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[oliver_harper2108]

35. questions about the KKK

Hi, I'm from England and I am intrigued to know what the views of America are on the KKK.

To me everyone dislikes the KKK and obviously they are in the media for all the wrong reasons, and also the way I see it, is that the fine of two and a half million dollars is trying to bankrupt the Klan, by them having to sell off certain possessions such as meet house etc.
But if this is so would it not be easy to ban them, as an organisation.... clearly a neo-nazi, skinhead, white supremacy movement is a clear threat to equality and democracy in the US.

And also how much are they in the media? they are films that include the KKK does this not reach out to certain people who them want to be part of this organization and in the mainstream media?

response would be great thanks :)

[Kajsa]

36. Oliver, they have been designated as a hate group.

The are not as visible as they were 40,50 years ago
but unfortunately, they are still very active.

Here's a link that gives more information on them,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ku_Klux_Klan

also, here's a link to a map of hate groups in the US.

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/hate.jsp

The largest concentration of the KKK is in the
southern states.

Welcome to DU, btw!

:hi: