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
Friends and family of victim call for investigation int…
Dozens of protesters demonstrated outside St. Louis city police headquarters Wednesday, determined to continue pressuring for an investigation into the shooting death of a St. Loui...

Larry Conners no longer with KMOV
Long-time KMOV reporter and anchor Larry Conners is no longer with the station. KMOV President Mark Pimentel issued the following statement: "We regret to announce that Larry Co...

Roads closed in advance of Senior PGA Championship
Some roads are already closed in Town & Country as Bellerieve Country Club as preparations continue for the Senior PGA Championship. From 6AM until 8PM through Sunday, Ladue R...

Man runs from traffic stop, into police headquarters
A St. Louis man redefined the phrase, out of the frying pan and into the fire. Clayton police were conducting a traffic stop when the suspect jumped out of his car and started run...

Police investigating reports of illegal taping at Illin…
BELLEVILLE, Ill. -- AP —Police in Belleville say they’re investigating reports that female students at a Catholic high school secretly were videotaped by one of the school’s sports...

Priya, the elephant calf, makes public debut
Visitors to the St. Louis Zoo got their first look at the newest resident of the elephant exhibit. Priya, the Asian Elephant calf, made her debut today. A zoo spokesperson says th...

Gov. Nixon considering expansion to adoption benefits
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is weighing whether to sign legislation that would allow children's non-related legal guardians to receive adoption subsidies. C...
Missouri's infrastructure gets a "C-"
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Civil engineers say Missouri's infrastructure gets only a C-minus. The regional chapters of the American Society of Civil Engineers released the letter gra...