ACLU to represent KKK in Georgia lawsuit

Knighthawk (from left), April Hanson and her husband Harley Hanson, members of the International Keystone Knights Realm of Georgia, perform a traditional Klan salute along the portion of highway they want to adopt allowing them to put up a sign and do litter removal near Blairsville on Sunday, June 10, 2012. / Atlanta Journal Constitution,AP Photo/Curtis Compton

(CBS/AP) ATLANTA - The American Civil Liberties Union will help the Ku Klux Klan in its bid to join Georgia's highway cleanup program as a legal fight looms.

ACLU of Georgia Executive Director Debbie Seagraves said that the civil rights group will assist the Klan in its battle with the state.

KKK wants to adopt a Georgia highway
KKK may challenge Ga. highway adoption denial

The International Keystone Knights of the KKK applied to join the "Adopt-A-Highway" program along part of Route 515 in the north Georgia mountains. Participating groups are recognized with a sign along the road they adopt.

State officials announced this month they would deny the KKK group's application, setting up the legal showdown.

Seagraves said the Georgia's Department of Transportation is violating the First Amendment by singling out groups for different treatment based on their viewpoints.

"This is a program that's available to a wide variety of groups, individuals and agencies. But the Department of Transportation decided not to grant this group ... based on who they are and their philosophies, their beliefs," Seagraves said. "We believe it is unconstitutional and many different courts have held that making a decision based on viewpoints is unconstitutional."

The ACLU is still working on its strategy for representing the group in what it considers a First Amendment case, Seagraves said.

[vista8635]

Like al-Qaeda, the Ku Klux Klan are terrorists.

[honest_pols]

See comment by "servorum" in cbsnews.com article:

"Vatican hires Fox correspondent as media adviser"

[raymailhot]

The legal arm of the democrat party comes to the rescue of the enforcement arm of the democrat party. Where is the news? If they were to come to the aid of pro-lifers or the tea party wanting to practice their freedom of speech, that would be news!

[myoleman]

The KKK feels that their civil right to hate and hang people of color are being constrained. They want to burn a few crosses along a section of highway, and maybe plant a few tea-party signs, too. It's that time of year, you know.

[raymailhot]

The democrats need to stop giving their traditional supporters away! It is your history, live with it!

[johntate777]

I might be mistaken, but I suspect they'll regret getting that sign. People will go out of their way to throw the nastiest trash out there. Plus, the same people will do their best to hit anybody picking up along that route.

[doubleecho-2009]

IF the KKK adopts the highway section and puts up "No N*ggers Allowed" signs, that might be the first indication that things HAVEN'T changed, they are just trying to put on a "gentler" face.

[14FREEK]

I don't see that. I see a whole bunch of garbage being dumped on their mile of road. the worst stuff.

[doubleecho-2009]

Kind of a SORRY state of affairs when BOTH poltical parties have completely ERRONEOUS ideas of what the ACLU is all about!
I really am VERY GLAD that they are there & doing what they DO! We NEED all of the watchdogs that we can!

[14FREEK]

Amen.

[hilario3]

The KKK has never ever been associated with anything positive,moral,
educated,thoughtful,insightful or meaningful,this would definetly be
a first,maybe the start of a spiritual rebirth. I just don't see a
family driving by a 'sponsered by the KKK' sign and not have some
reservations or fear of the local citizens and would probaly
inhibit some to stop or stay in the local communities, too much
of a mix bag.

[doubleecho-2009]

The POINT of this is that the ACLU is NOT some liberal-leaning organization!
The have supported the Catholic church in the past. They continue to support ANY group that may have been deprived of Constitutional civil liberties!

[fredisalive]

I thought the KKK changed their name to the tea party, some chapters still use the 3 Ks?

[steven_rodgers]

...yea and liberals are a bunch of America hating Commie's who want to control every citizen and turn the country gay..... jeeezussss...your complete contempt and ignorance for those who don't share your same view ( how ever rediculous it may be) is one of the many reasons this country is in such a clusterf$#%