KKK group looks to join Georgia's Adopt-A-Highway program

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Past the hour now members of the white supremacy group the Ku Klux Klan say they want to take part of Georgia's adopt a highway program.

And sponsor a stretch of roadway in the Appalachian Mountains.

That's apparently put state official in a very tough spot like many states Georgia thanks its contributors by giving them their own special signs along the highway.

The state Department of Transportation is still reviewing this new application.

The man who filed the request on behalf of the kkk tells Fox News he just wants to clean up the road.

But at least one state representative has spoken out and loudly telling Fox News it should be denied just as we would deny the request from any other hate group.

Back in 2000 the state of Missouri lost a similar fight with a group the kkk.

A federal appeals court rule that under the First Amendment.

The state could not deny an adopt a highway application just because officials disagreed with the groups point of view.

Our senior judicial analyst judge entered a volatile I was back with -- as -- the criminal defense attorney and Fox News legal analyst Mercedes -- you know -- the those against -- like look this is a hate group.

That is looking to pick up new membership and rebrand itself and -- the state goes along with this.

State is complicit that this is a hate group that would do reject Mercedes reject me reject a lot of people are watching the show map.

But hate speech is protected in the United States of America the Supreme Court has ruled that way.

And this Circuit Court in Missouri which is a different one on the one that would look at this if it emanates from Georgia in my view.

Properly ruled that way if this were a private highway and you could decide who you wanted to do business with you could say to them I'm not gonna buy your product.

I'm not gonna put your sign on my private highway but because it's owned by the government.

The government can't make a decision based think its opinion of their opinion.

Six could Mercedes they could do away with the program which they don't wanna do -- budgets are so short 4100 individuals and play -- 170 -- -- organizations have been involved with this program.

If they don't do that and they let -- man.

There's one thing and if they'd if they just deny them -- -- a tough -- of.

Oh I think so and plus plus -- state of Missouri is already come out to wait a minute we have anti discrimination statutes and this particular group.

Actually promotes discrimination so therefore we can't sanction and we can't certainly have them up on the -- so I think really put up a valiant fight and said it.

This actually violates federal law if we allow them to actually put up at times but I think the fall -- going to be practical one.

You put -- -- KK excite you think someone like me I I have aside.

Due to clean up the highways you think someone like me or another business owners gonna say I'm gonna put up the -- so they can see my son before after the kkk side.

They may have that -- they may have fallen as a result of -- -- to actually being forced to put at that time.

Some very broad guide guidelines in the state of Georgia -- July and any civic minded organization.

Business individual family city county state or federal agencies welcome to volunteer.

They could change the guidelines as I suppose they could change the guidelines but -- will be very difficult for them to reject this organization on the basis of their First Amendment views as hateful and reprehensible.

As those views are.

Because they could then say well we reject the views of certain right to life groups because we think that there interference with the right of women have abortions at saint fall.

And and where will this stop.

Where it stops is the Supreme Court has said free speech is free speech and -- can't describe.

The difference -- respectfully I come he is a judge so that you're back thought back.

Respectfully -- a couple of things one this is it this group has a history of violence has a history of a -- of violence throughout the the decades.

So there may be a different that they can actually split hairs here and say this is something that we can weaken deem it to be a public safety issue if we start promoting a group.

That has for decades promoted violence against people who have -- This is a wonderful argument which which ought to be made because this group should be driven out of town by the force of opinion right now by the force of law.

And -- federal courts in Missouri have a status much.

The guy who filed the application.

Is named Harley -- -- let me read you this he said he is the exalted cyclops.

Of the plans realm of Georgia.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- We just want to clean up the doggone rode the 34 year old electrician from Blair's will -- an interview with the Atlanta journal constitution newspaper and we appreciate the quotes from them.

He goes on to say and I quote we're not gonna be out there and robes.

But they could be.

-- there is no dress code for adopt a highway folks.

You know that the the brownies and the wind blows whom kids go out a little brownie -- -- in there.

And there we blow customs and a little boys and girls learn about about cleaning up and that's a great lesson learned there I couldn't -- -- to be out there in the day and things saying.

And there's the public safety issue and talk about incredible distraction judge just think that could be a really -- -- see them along the highway errors again and -- and.

-- I agree with you I agree with everything you're saying that there is no value in our history more sacrosanct than freedom of speech.

And the state cannot get in the business out of precedence it's not -- unfettered etc.

all of.

Always I don't know let's a couple of years ago there was no way to keep Malcolm -- can't keep them -- and what they're getting here is that is a boatload of publicity.

Including five minutes into the -- and.

Chorus of opinion I should make their presence difficult and uncomfortable.

But the force of law cannot make their presence gone they just really wanna plant closings along the highway that's really -- certainly -- -- -- it is -- they're gonna receive they want what I talk about them like we're now.

Look what I love the one quote from the one losses.

I love -- race does that make me wrong I'm proud to be -- Allen wanna -- of like you thank you both -- welcome.

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KKK group looks to join Georgia's Adopt-A-Highway program

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