1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

  2. Watching NBA Action
    It's Mavericks vs. Thunder in Game 1 of the West Semis. Come join Clutch as we're watching NBA playoff action live!

    LIVE: NBA Playoffs!
    Dismiss Notice
Welcome LIVE NBA ACTION

Yahoo! News: Court Won't Block KKK From Highway Cleanup

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by GRENDEL, Jan 10, 2005.

Tags:
  1. GRENDEL

    GRENDEL Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2002
    Messages:
    17,192
    Likes Received:
    4,675
    By GINA HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer

    WASHINGTON - Missouri lost a Supreme Court appeal Monday over its decision to bar a Ku Klux Klan group from a highway litter cleanup program.

    The court's rejection, made without comment, means that the KKK chapter must be allowed into Missouri's Adopt-A-Highway program, which is designed to save money by using volunteers for garbage pickup. Volunteer groups are publicly thanked with signs along the highway acknowledging their help.


    Every state but Vermont has such a program. States supporting Missouri in the appeal argued that the Supreme Court needed to intervene so that states unwilling to partner with the KKK would not decide to abolish their programs.


    The dispute involves a half-mile stretch of Missouri 21 near Potosi, a town of fewer than 3,000 in the eastern part of the state.


    A KKK chapter sought permission to pick up trash along the road, but was turned down because the program is not open to groups that discriminate based on race or those that courts have said have a history of violence.


    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.


    The Klan sued and won on grounds that it had a First Amendment free speech right to participate.


    In its appeal, Missouri attorney Erwin O. Switzer III said state leaders are "trying to avoid giving motorists the mistaken impression that the state has anything good to say about a horrific, racist group."


    He argued that the case was about government speech, not speech of the group.


    Robert Herman of St. Louis, the attorney for the KKK, said that the group wants to do its part in community service and to express "solidarity with the community."


    The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (news - web sites) had ruled that Missouri's "desire to exclude controversial organizations in order to prevent 'road rage' or public backlash on the highways against the adopters' unpopular beliefs is simply not a legitimate governmental interest that would support the enactment of speech-abridging regulations."


    Texas Solicitor General R. Ted Cruz, who filed a brief on behalf of 10 states that backed Missouri, said that states unwilling to partner with the KKK may "forgo the economic benefits of having volunteers pick up tons of roadside trash each year." The 10 states are Alabama, Arkansas, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Vermont.


    The case is Rahn v. Robb, 04-629.

    http://www.yahoo.com/_ylh=X3oDMTB2MXQ5MTU3BF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEdGVzdAMwBHRtcGwDaW5kZXgtaWU-/s/226291
     
    #1 GRENDEL, Jan 10, 2005
  2. Baqui99

    Baqui99 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2000
    Messages:
    11,493
    Likes Received:
    1,230
    Shouldn't the KKK be classified as a terrorist organization?
     
    #2 Baqui99, Jan 10, 2005
  3. DrewP

    DrewP Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2001
    Messages:
    2,635
    Likes Received:
    26
    if they want to clean up trash let them clean up trash.
     
    #3 DrewP, Jan 10, 2005
  4. Summer Song Giver

    Summer Song Giver Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2000
    Messages:
    6,334
    Likes Received:
    197
    How so? No more terrorist than Quanell X's little group running around with AK47s trying to look all millitant, bithces.

    /does not support KKK but does support free speech
     
    #4 Summer Song Giver, Jan 10, 2005
  5. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 1999
    Messages:
    34,166
    Likes Received:
    13,592
    I'm not sure how this is a free speech issue, frankly. Govt road signs aren't really a forum for public speech.
     
    #5 JuanValdez, Jan 10, 2005
  6. Summer Song Giver

    Summer Song Giver Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2000
    Messages:
    6,334
    Likes Received:
    197
    not saying it was just that before we go calling them terrorists we should consider that if the constitution will protect those of us with the most extreme views those of us in the mainstream should be fairly safe.
     
    #6 Summer Song Giver, Jan 10, 2005
  7. StupidMoniker

    StupidMoniker I lost a bet

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2001
    Messages:
    15,114
    Likes Received:
    2,146
    Ditto. The KKK actually does something good and people want to put a stop to it? Should the tsunami victims turn down donations from al Queda? It is fine to hate an evil organization, but if they are doing something good, let them do it, it doesn't mean you approve of their ideas.
     
    #7 StupidMoniker, Jan 10, 2005
  8. insane man

    insane man Member

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2003
    Messages:
    2,892
    Likes Received:
    5
    hamas does some good too.

    but i don't have a problem with KKK having a sign. its all good.

    its completely a freedom of speech issue. if kkk believes segregation was great thats fine. if they say we should kill blacks...thats a seperate issue.
     
    #8 insane man, Jan 10, 2005
  9. Hippieloser

    Hippieloser Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2003
    Messages:
    8,213
    Likes Received:
    1,973
    Sweet, finally a road I have no problem tossing trash on to!
     
    #9 Hippieloser, Jan 11, 2005
  10. Agent86

    Agent86 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2000
    Messages:
    702
    Likes Received:
    2
    They don't want to do something good, they want there name on a sign so people driving through know they have a presence there.
     
    #10 Agent86, Jan 11, 2005
  11. StupidMoniker

    StupidMoniker I lost a bet

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2001
    Messages:
    15,114
    Likes Received:
    2,146
    I didn't say they wanted to do something good, I said they were doing something good. Whatever their motivation, they were cleaning up litter, or trying to. If you donate to PBS because you want the gift, and don't have any particular desire to support public television, that doesn't make them appreciate the donation any less.
     
    #11 StupidMoniker, Jan 11, 2005
  12. BlastOff

    BlastOff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 1999
    Messages:
    1,772
    Likes Received:
    88
    Yes, any group whose agenda is hate-driven and/or violent are terrorists.

    The problem imho is the advertising of the community service. Because most states advertise the sponsor of the community service (on a sign), it most definitely will incite those people opposed to the sponsor if that sponsor is considered controversial. It could have easily have been Al Qeda, the Black Panthers, or even Ashlee Simpson (lol).

    [biting tongue] The KKK should be applauded for doing something good. [/biting tongue] However, I think the states should find a better way of acknowledging the sponsors without necessarily advertising them on the stretch of road.
     
    #12 BlastOff, Jan 11, 2005
  13. GRENDEL

    GRENDEL Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2002
    Messages:
    17,192
    Likes Received:
    4,675
    NOOOOO!!!!!!
     
    #13 GRENDEL, Jan 11, 2005
  14. halfbreed

    halfbreed Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2003
    Messages:
    5,157
    Likes Received:
    26
    Exactly what I was thinking! Think about it...30 years ago who knew that in 2005 a black guy would be able to throw a piece of trash onto the road and have the freaking KKK clean it up. There's some progress for you
     
    #14 halfbreed, Jan 11, 2005
  15. BlastOff

    BlastOff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 1999
    Messages:
    1,772
    Likes Received:
    88
    LMAO. Even funnier would be if you labeled the trash black or jew before dumping it. :D
     
    #15 BlastOff, Jan 11, 2005
  16. GladiatoRowdy

    GladiatoRowdy Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2002
    Messages:
    16,596
    Likes Received:
    494
    Just go to the dumpster behind a soul food restaurant and a kosher deli and dump all of THEIR trash on that stretch of highway.
     
    #16 GladiatoRowdy, Jan 11, 2005
  17. BlastOff

    BlastOff Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 1999
    Messages:
    1,772
    Likes Received:
    88
    :D

    Would they pick it up if they knew? That is the question...
     
    #17 BlastOff, Jan 11, 2005
  18. GladiatoRowdy

    GladiatoRowdy Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2002
    Messages:
    16,596
    Likes Received:
    494
    If they didn't, this would be a moot point since they would have their stretch of highway revoked if they didn't clean it.
     
    #18 GladiatoRowdy, Jan 11, 2005
  19. Sishir Chang

    Sishir Chang Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2000
    Messages:
    11,064
    Likes Received:
    8
    Good for them. I agree with the rest of the posters. If the KKK wants to do something that helps out all society rather than formenting hate let them do it.

    As for the free speech issue. I think its broader and applies to the whole First Ammendment. The KKK wraps itself in religious and mystical symbolism so it could be argued its a religious group and to ban it from a government program would violate the the establishment clause. Also under freedom of association as long as the KKK has a right to exist as a group and it shouldn't be up to the state to bar them from participating in a program open to all other groups.
     
    #19 Sishir Chang, Jan 12, 2005
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)

Share This Page

Toggle Width
Style
ClutchFans Original

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Rockets Content

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now