Supreme Court Rules KKK Can Adopt a Highway..and Post A Sign!!

[KerryReallyWon]

In the state of MO

[Liberty Belle]

1. Are they wearing hoods under those robes?

[Wilms]

2. They're hiring a chain-gang to do the clean-up. n/t

[AwakeAtLast]

3. Last time they did that,

didn't the state of MO then name that stretch of road after MLK, Jr?

[bling bling]

33. People kept stealing the KKK sign from the highway

They'd put another one up and someone would steal it again. Nobody seemed to care about the vandalism of the sign. Nobody here wants the KKK adopting the highway, not the citizens, not the authorities, not anybody but the stupid KKK. Even the courts rejected their appeal to adopt the highway - which is why I guess it eventually just made it up to USSC.

A while ago the local government approved renaming that part of the highway after Rosa Parks. They even put up the sign with the new name really close by to the sign that says "adopted by the KKK."

[underseasurveyor]

38. Seems to me I recall another part of that story that gave me a chuckle

It was that people were tossing great amounts of trash out their windows on that stretch of highway but when they changed it to Rosa Parks there was nary a piece of trash to be seen :-)

Just goes ta show ya that where there is kkk, there is trash :-)

[Helga Scow Stern]

4. Do you have a link for this story, please?

:hi:

[bling bling]

34. I was looking for a picture of the Rosa Parks Highway and

found this. It's a link verifying the information that the highway was renamed but I couldn't find a picture. The snopes article was old, too.

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

[buff2]

5. Have you ever seen a republican NOT get their way?

:shrug:

[AverageJoe]

6. The KKK took my baby away

They took her away, away from me....

But seriously folks, if free speech isn't protected for everyone--even the Klan--it's not protected for anyone. I know this can tie your stomach in knots, but that's the way it works.

[jarab]

7. You are correct, imo. (eom)

...O...

[catgirl]

11. Huh? Whaaaaat?

Freedom of speech for a racist murderous group
that should be outlawed? Come on, let's not EVEN
talk about freedom of speech and that vile group
in the same breath. Ok?

[DaveinMD]

27. the first amendment

isn't for speech we agree with. That speech doesn't need protection. Its for speech we may find reprehensible. The answer for speech we don't like is more speech, not more restrictions.

[Liberty Belle]

37. Hmmm. DU needs to adopt a highway stretch, then.

The Red State freepers might find us reprehensible, but the Supremes say we've got rights, correct? Perhaps this is the way to get our message out, folks:

"CLEAN UP ELECTIONS, NOT JUST HIGHWAYS!"


Wonder if the Supremes decision applies to the public airways as well as highways. Remember, Clearchannel wouldn't sell radio air time to a DU member who wrote liberal ads. Bet if the KKK wanted airtime, they'd get it. Someone really ought to challenge that in court.

[DaveinMD]

42. great idea

let's do it

[Slickriddles]

31. No, freedom of speech for everybody. n/t

[catgirl]

13. "but seriously"?

it's like your poking fun at the expense of a lynched
person and loved ones. How insensitive. I'm so angry
right now, I think I'll call it a night.

[Walt Starr]

44. Yep yep yep

If you support Freedom of Speech, it must be for EVERYBODY! The Freepers are the ones who seek to limit freddoms to only those who are like them.

[genieroze]

8. I guess that mean the Nazis can too. n/t

[AverageJoe]

26. Yes, indeed. n/t

[murielm99]

9. I would love to steal one of the Klan's Adopt a Highway signs.

Too bad I don't live nearby.

[frictionlessO]

10. Uhmmm while Im all for free speech...

In my mind this is tantamount to letting the Army of God or any other terrorist organization adopt a highway.

The kkk was, is, and always will be a terrorist organization!

Go ahead and defend this ruling, but I drawn the line of free speech at terrorists.

kkk ='s terrorist

the kkk and all hate groups that seek to inflict violence and terror upon any other social, cultural, or religious group in the name of furthering their own agenda are terrorists!!




Thats it end of story!:mad: :mad: :grr: :nuke:

[mollyd]

14. terrorist

is a word used much as communist was in the 1950s. If you can't prove that the people are actively being violent or supporting violence, they must have the same rights as everyone. Wearing funny clothes and saying obnoxious things are not enough to remove rights.

[frictionlessO]

18. you're referring to individuals right? I'm referring to the organization

ya know what? I just wrote a long winded reply that outlined very well my argument and then I realized something.. it doesn't matter.

If you don't think they actively support violence as a group (despite what their more modern literature tells you), than we'll just have to disagree.

The difference between me calling them terrorists and some flippant shithole alleging someone was a commie in the 50s is that that someone probably wasn't a commie. The kkk is a terrorist organization.

sorry to disagree, flame away.

[catgirl]

23. Murder? Inciting hatred? Discrimnation?

The KKK is one of the most violent groups in american history.
Yes, they still burn the cross and leave terrifying
messages behind. And they hold political office too.

[AverageJoe]

21. Hi FrictionlessO

I respect your opinion, but my view is that all speech is legal speech. I believe that most of what comes out of Rush Limbaugh's, George W. Bush's, Sean Hannity's, etc. mouth is hate speech. Still, I believe it should be protected by the constitution. If we start limiting what people we violently disagree with can say, then we're on a slippery slope to no speech at all. Listen up: The bad guys are in power and if they thought they could get away with it, they'd say that anybody who questions Bush should be put away. I suspect you would say that this is a bad thing. Us saying that the Klan and their ilk should be silenced opens the door for them to silence us, as well. Just my two cents.

Peace. Seriously.

[frictionlessO]

41. I know, bleeve me I totally agree with that! I'd agree 100% with

you, except that in the kkks case its not just about speech. They have and do commit violent acts, not just speech's of hate. I can handle that, I have no problem with people who want to spew vitriol thats protected as well as it should be. I do have a problem with hate crimes, Ill stop calling them terrorists since I basically got called out for using the word...

Ya know this is probably the one topic I shouldn't be involved with. I cant think straight when it comes to this kind of scum....

sorry if I offended anyones sensibilities by using terrorist to describe a hate filled, violent, organized group of shitheads.


really I usually have oodles of tolerance and compassion... I just cant on this issue.

[AverageJoe]

46. I couldn't agree more

with your assessment of the klan's violent acts. They should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law whenever they break the law. In this instance, though, they are not breaking any laws. Civic engagement is not illegal.

Look, it makes me sick to think that they're going to get free, positive publicity from this, but that's just the way it is.

[frictionlessO]

48. its ok, like I said I shouldnt even argue this issue anyway...

I get way too emotional about it to form a good coherent argument. I just dont see any difference between them and something like the "army of god"...

But, myeh... youre spot on about free speech, besides Im sure there will be public activism to try and counteract this.

[AverageJoe]

49. I suspect you're right

This will probably end up blowing up in their faces. And that's a good thing.

[ClintCooper2003]

12. Good. I hope it wakes some people in that backasswards state.

[catgirl]

15. I didn't realize that DUers are white supremist &

elitist people. I thought that was the repugs position in
this country. I have high hopes that MO will be blue next
time around. Good night all.

[AverageJoe]

16. Hi Catgirl

I didn't mean to offend you. I just believe that free speech means that even the most offensive speech must also be protected. That cuts both ways: I believe the flag stands for my right to burn it, if I so choose. The Klan would want to kill me for that, no doubt. I don't support their "right" to inflict harm on me or anyone else, but free speech is a different matter.

Peace, my feline friend.

[catgirl]

22. Average Joe,

Believe me, I'm all for freedom of speech. I am not, however,
for freedom of existence for this group. They are murderers
and real terrorists. Just recently, a white supremist group
passed out literature in Duluth, MN. regarding "the black problem".
These people should be stopped, not encouraged. My adopted
brother is black. I learned, vicariously, what discrimination is
like. It is devastating.

[AverageJoe]

25. I'm not for the existence of the klan, either

That's not my point. Yes, they are an awful group. There is nothing about the klan that I admire, respect or endorse. I simply believe that even the most awful speech must be protected or nothing else is. Democracy is messy.

Not trying to get on your bad side. Peace.

[Maraya1969]

29. I believe all things work for good

even though I sometimes really don't believe it. :crazy:

Seriously, I would think nothing of destroying their signs and littering on "their" highway just to give them something to do. (And trust my, I do NOT litter. I pick up other people's garbage!)

This may be an opportunity to show them what they are about and what most people think of them. They are a small organization anyway.

Perhaps spray painting a Star of David over their signs would be a start. I can't think of a sign for black persons right now except that fist sign which doesn't seem appropriate.

I have a niece who is black and I know how hard it is for her sometimes. It is terrible the way some people behave.

BTW - I was informed by a black woman from Puerto Rico that she did not the term, "African American" because she was Puerto Rico! So now I say "black" but I am still kind of afraid someone will get on my case about it.

A hug for you! :hug:

[ozarklib]

30. I don't litter either,

but I will be tempted to throw trash on that stretch of highway just to give them more work to do. Wonder if they will actually do it.

[Slickriddles]

32. Supporting the 1st Ammendment is neither

white supremicist nor elitist. When the Klan commits illegal acts the law should go after them (although I understand they often are the law). But to try and strip them of free speech rights puts those rights in jeopardy for everybody.

[mollyd]

17. the position of the ACLU

The First Amendment exists precisely to protect the most offensive and controversial speech from government suppression. The best way to counter obnoxious speech is with more speech. Persuasion, not coercion, is the solution. http://www.aclu.org/FreeSpeech/FreeSpeechMain.cfm

[AverageJoe]

19. Rock on, Mollyd

It's like the man said: "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

No offense meant to those who feel otherwise....

[Cats Against Frist]

28. Rock on, indeed

I think the Klan is a bunch of fucked-up idiots who got the shit kicked out of them when they were kids, but I do support their right to organize, march, adopt a highway, whatever they need to do (nonviolently) to work out their fear and sense of powerlessness.

They arrested a bunch of RW Christian slops for disrupting a Gay Pride celebration -- do you want to act like these assholes? Let the people speak, for fuck's sake.

[frictionlessO]

20. well I can completely agree with that but I still strongly disagree

with your thinking the kkk does not commit violent acts.

[KTM]

24. Soon that will be

the most littered-upon stretch of highway in MO... if I weren't against littering, and lived near there, I'd be dropping my bags of soiled cat litter...

[Guaranteed]

35. Yeaah....welllll.....

:shrug:

That's the price of the free exchange of ideas, I guess.

[DrCorday]

36. I love the ACLU and all but...

So far the Repukes seem to be winning the persuasion battle. And I don't know why! We're so much more logical than they are!!

AGH!!

[Q]

39. delete

double post.

[Q]

40. The First Amendment...

...has restrictions on 'free' speech. You cannot yell fire! in a crowded theater and you can't promote speech that invokes violence or hatred.

This isn't a free speech issue...although the KKKers have always used that as an argument as they incite violence against Blacks and others.

[AverageJoe]

45. Actually, this is a free speech issue

Yelling fire in a movie theater is reckless endangerment. Adopting a highway is civic involvement. I agree with you that the klan is a horrible organization, but do uphold their right to engage in protected, legal activity. Free speech is for everyone, even the wackos, the crazies, the evils. If it's not, then we don't get it, either.

[AntiCoup2K4]

43. The Klan are a bunch of useless cowards

Even other racists hate them. After all, what's the point of being a racist if you're hiding under a sheet.

What's next? The Fred Phelps "God Hates Interstates" freeway in Kansas??

[grumpy old fart]

47. That sign is gonna be put up and torn down more times than a wack a mole

IMHO

[quaoar]

50. Let the Klan have their little highway project

They only do this kind of crap for the publicity. If the state had let them adopt the highway to begin with they would have gotten bored with it and dropped out in six months. But instead, they were "oppressed" -- as they see it -- so they had to turn it into a cause.

It's the same reason they ask for parade permits -- because they know they will be turned down and then they can file a lawsuit and be interviewed on CNN. They best thing to do when they pull this kind of shit is to ignore them and they will quit doing it.

If they turn violent or incite violence, bring the hammer down.

Having said that, if they want to pick up trash, let's help them. Here are some items to toss from your car window along the stretch of Klan-adopted highway:
1. Dirty diapers
2. Stryofoam packing peanuts
3. Sugar (attracts fire ants)
4. Used condoms
5. A copy of the Gospels on the off chance that a Klansman might pick it up, read it and be ashamed of himself.