Ku Klux Klan highway bid sparks fury
Tuesday 12 June 2012
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EmailUS civil rights activists reacted with fury on Monday at attempts by a Ku Klux Klan group to join Georgia's "Adopt-A-Highway" programme to clean up litter on roads.
Each group that volunteers is named on a sign on the road it adopts. The KKK group secretary claimed that she applied to keep the highway beautiful, not for publicity.
But State Representative Tyrone Brooks said he welcomed the opportunity to educate the group about the Klan's legacy of violence and racism - which he experienced first-hand as a civil rights activist in the fight to end segregation.
"I'd like to sit down with this young lady and say: 'Your organisation tried to kill me'," Mr Brooks said.
He said that the notion of a highway sign identifying the Klan as a civic group was "insulting and insane."
Mr Brooks, who is president of the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials, said the group would pursue legal action should the KKK application be approved.
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