KKK wages first amendment battle in Desloge, MO...again
The Ku Klux Klan is challenging a new Desloge, Missouri ordinance that bans them from distributing flyers in city streets.
A judge has already struck down a city wide ban on distributing leaflets that the Klan had fought with the help of the ACLU. Tony Rothert, legal director for the ACLU's Eastern District of Missouri says the Supreme Court has long held that handing out leaflets is protected by the First Amendment.
Rothert says that neither he, nor the ACLU agrees with the KKK`s message, just their right to share it. "We think it’s important for all Americans that they be able to distribute literature to get their ideas out in peaceful ways and let the market place of ideas debate who’s right,” he said.
Rother has suggested the that the city's new ordinance is an attempt to get around the earlier judges ruling.
Desloge city administrator Greg Camp says that's not true. Camp says, it's never been a question of First Amendment rights. "Regardless of the message, we have to respect the fact that everyone has the right to free speech," he said. "The concern is for people being in the road."
Camp says the city consulted with an attorney before crafting the new measure, and they believe it will hold up in court.
The city has until Monday (May 6th) to respond to the ACLU's new complaint.
Desloge is about 60 miles south of St. Louis.
Latest News
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Man steals from nephew's piggy bank to pay for drugs, s…
CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) — A north St. Louis County man admits that he stole money from his 4-year-old nephew's piggy bank to use for drugs and prostitutes. KSDK reports 31-year-old Baro...
IL Lt. Governor and others fight for Scott Air Force Ba…
BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Although the future of Scott Air Force Base in southern Illinois won't be in question for two more years, state and local officials are preparing a plan to ...
Gov. Nixon, legislators clash over Medicaid, driver's l…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Governor Jay Nixon began the year with ambitious priorities to start of his second term but ran into a wall of opposition from the Republican Legislature...

Probe begins after Conn. commuter trains crash
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (AP) - Two commuter trains packed with rush-hour commuters collided in an accident that sent more than 60 people to Connecticut hospitals, severely damaged the tra...

Horses, trainers prepare for 2013 Preakness
BALTIMORE (AP) - The second leg of horse racing's Triple Crown leaves the starting gate this afternoon in Maryland and the trainer for Kentucky Derby winner Orb says he thinks his ...

Gov. Nixon gives mixed review to legislators' efforts
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Gov. Jay Nixon is giving a mixed review to Missouri's 2013 legislative session. The Democratic governor praised lawmakers for boosting funding for ed...
Police investigate death of Cahokia infant
An investigation is underway in the Metro East after a 4-month-old baby was found dead in his home. Cahokia police say it appears the child died from suffocation. Officers say the...

Toddler left behind by daycare workers at St. Charles r…
Employees at a St. Charles Chuck E. Cheese are being praised for how they dealt with a child being left behind yesterday. The St. Charles police say a two-year-old boy was left be...