Community Corner

ACLU to Defend KKK's Right to Clean Up Georgia Highway

The American Civil Liberties Union has reportedly agreed to take on the case of the Ku Klux Klan's right to clean up a Georgia highway.

Talk about strange bedfellows. The Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting that the American Civil Liberties Union has agreed to take on the case of the Ku Klux Klan's right to adopt and clean up a Georgia highway. Debbie Seagraves, executive director for the ACLU of Georgia, confirmed to the AJC that the organization would take on the case as a First Amendment issue.

The application made the news last month After consultation with Gov. Nathan Deal, the , citing as a reason that it would create a distraction to motorists.

"Further, promoting an organization with a history of inciting civil disturbance and social unrest would present a grave concern to the Department," GDOT officials said in a press release in support of the denial. "Finally, issuing this permit would have the potential to negatively impact the quality of life, commerce and economic development of Union County and all of Georgia."

GDOT had a lot of encouragement to deny the application, including a petition drive on Change.org by Nioshii Wilde, an Atlanta-based visual artist and civil rights advocate. However, many believed it would not stand and was likely to face a challenge. A similar case in 2005 in Missouri was reportedly overturned and came out on the side of the KKK.



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