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[KY]
Neo-Nazis Allowed To Keep Adopted Highway
Kentucky Enquirer
/May 6, 2009
Citing free-speech concerns, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reversed its initial decision to ban the National Alliance from participating in a highway cleanup program.
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on May 14th, 2009 at 9:31 am
Why ban them?
They can clean up the highways for all I care, after all, that’s what “adopt-a-highway” is all about. But if they’re gonna be committing hatecrimes by spray painting swastikas on highway signs and vandalism(as they usually do) then the KTC must be held accountable for foolishly allowing skinheads to “adopt-a-highway”.
Keep an eye on them KKKriminals and make sure they’re following the law…..
on May 14th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Everyone knows that the Adopt a Highway program is about advertsiing and gaining recognition. It’s not just about cleaning up the roadways.
Giving attention and recognition to these Neo-Nazis provides them with legitimacy. We should be better than that.
on May 14th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Hate crime perpetrators should not be able to advertise. Their very names elicit fear in potential victims who may be members of a targeted group. This is not ok under any circumstances.
It is akin to letting violent criminals advertise. For example a rapist could advertise on a billboard and encourage this kind of crime. A murderer could also do this and on and on. Would we stand for that? So it seems that this community is complicit with racism and anti-semitism etc…This group or government should be prosecuted for allowing this to occur.
on May 14th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Does any other group spray paint the highway signs? This is ridiculous allowing such a racist group adopt the state freeway, and then they allow more than just a formal sign stating they’re adopting a freeway, and let spray painting and vandalism with the such as swastika’s go on? I mean what if other gangs wanted to adopt highways with their vandalism too “El Norte” or the Sereno’s? with all their vandalism. And like the other person said, maybe killers should be allowed to promote killing, or pimps could advertise for sex. Would all this be acceptable? There should be some moral and safety requirements for adopting the freeways.
on May 14th, 2009 at 10:35 am
You ladies made a good point. I didn’t know that “Adopt-a-Highway” was a form of “advertising” promotion. I wholeheartly agree with these two ladies above-Barbara and Kathleen.
Their “advertisement” also cognates their ideas that will only make Kentucky look bad by allowing such well known hategroups to openly express hate.
We all know that Kentucky is largely a conservative state and its not surprising that they allowed them to do so.
on May 14th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Hate cultists in California calling themselves “Save Our State” and “Minutemen” and no end of other things tried that in Southern California. The local authority has rules against hate cults and other “special interests” adopting highways so after thousands of complaints, the authority revoked the cult’s adoption.
on May 14th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Right, it’s good advertizing and shows that a group is a dedicated and useful member of the overall society, and allowing them to have their name up there grants them unwarranted legitimacy.
I can’t imagine that a pedophile advocacy group like NAMBLA would be allowed to have their name up there so the claim that the hate cult should be allowed “free speech” is rather lame since I doubt the authority would allow NAMBLA to adopt a highway.
It’s the same thing.
on May 14th, 2009 at 11:50 am
This is a great conversation! Yes the Kentucky state government uses the 1st amendment to substantiate this groups right to advertise. How conveinent to use adopt a highway program as a means to advertise. Using this great program as a facade to make the group’s presence known is very obvious. As a criminal justice professor having a interest in hate crimes and bias incidents, any chance a hate group has to advertise and make their cause known to others is welcomed. Giving this and other hate groups the opportunity for notoriety is dangerous and helps to feed their egos.
on May 14th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Nuts r allowed to adopt a highway!
What next…Adopt a country!
on May 16th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Obviously, this is only being allowed in Kentucky. I don’t recall any other states that granted a neo-Nazi gang(not a natavist group as seen in Cali) to adopt such a highway, frequently traveled by many Americans. If Kentucky is going to allow such adoption take place in their backwooded state, then they must allow other groups to do the same. Otherwise, that state is violating “the Freedom of Speech” of nonwhites. They can’t favor one race over all the others, that goes against the United States Constitution.
on May 16th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
The National Alliance had billboards all along the highways in North Carolina I would read them for hours not knowing what or who they were. Why is adopting a highway so different?At least they would be cleaning up and helping out. Their community could see who belonged to this group and maybe they would not like that kind of recognition. I wonder how many churches businesses and community organizations discriminated based on; race, creed ,sexual orientation and religion that had to change with the times that are a part of this program?
on June 15th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Good point Barbara. I fully agree!