The above photo, obviously taken during the primaries, was probably meant to be ironic, or perhaps not, possibly even based on the prevailing assumption at the time that Obama would be less likely than Hillary to win the General Election. Now, in the wake of Obama's victory, there have been a string of Klan stories, most notably one that has been unfolding in Northern Kentucky, where Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center has just successfully concluded a lawsuit against Ron Edwards, the Imperial Wizard of the Imperial Klans of America. From the CNN post-
The jury found that the Imperial Klans of America and its founder wrongfully targeted 16-year-old Jordan Gruver, an American citizen of Panamanian and Native-American descent.
The verdict included $1.5 million in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages against "Imperial Wizard" Ron Edwards.
The law center said before the verdict that a large damage award could break the Klan group, allowing the teen and the law center to seize the group's assets, including its headquarters, a 15-acre compound in Dawson Springs, Kentucky.
"We look forward to collecting every dime that we can for our client and to putting the Imperial Klans of America out of business," said SPLC founder and chief trial attorney Morris Dees, who tried the case.
Mr. Dees had earlier, as a means of explaining the grounds for the case and what he hoped to accomplish, released this video-
Interestingly enough, I got this video directly from the website of The Imperial Klans of America itself.
Ron Edwards then in response claimed that the lawsuit was without merit, and that Dees is just trying to rake in more millions using himself and his Klan as the fall guys. He goes on to say that he stays within the law in all his activities, and that all members of the Imperial Klans of America are likewise obliged to stay within the law, from which no deviations are tolerated. To this end, he made the following video, also available on the Klan's website.
He seems to think that Dees is just out to make money out of the lawsuit, both through the judgment and through donations, and points out that, even if he succeeded in putting the Imperial Klans of America out of business, he would not do away with the Klan, as the Klan is made up of many separate and independent organizations.
I guess Dees feels more than likely that it is one giant step toward his larger goal of eliminating the Klan by breaking them financially. He also, in the course of the case, produced a witness, a former Klansman who testified under oath that at one time Edwards tried to procure his services for the purposes of assassinating Mr. Dees, who claims that he and his organization have received many threats from numerous hate groups.
The following text copied from the Klan's website makes it easy to see where one could jump to the conclusion that not only is this a hate group, but that it could easily encourage violent activity.
We come in the name of THE LORD God JESUS CHRIST, Amen.
If you are not of the White race, this web site is not for the likes of YOU! We reserve the right of free speech to state our views whether our enemies like it or not. The IKA hates: Muds, spics, kikes and niggers. This is our God given right! In no way do we advocate violence. We believe in educating our people to the monopolistic Jewish control of the world's banks, governments, and media. White education is what ZOG hates and why it tries to imprison White Racialists.
This is a disclaimer, of course, meant to cover the group in the event of violence. You even have to agree to a disclaimer before entering the website. Of course, the kinds of people that Klan attracts to a large degree are the kinds of people that might make such disclaimers necessary.
Evidently, it wasn't enough for the jurors in the Brandenburg case. They seem to have sided with Mr. Dees in his assertion that Edwards and the Klan are responsible for the hatred and the violence they incite, however they try to pretty it up afterward.
I think this might be a test case, and that there will be more involving not only the Klan, but others as well. My only concern is how far it could be taken in the zeal to prosecute hate speech and incitement to violence. These things have a habit of taking on a life of their own.
Proof that the Democratic Party is still divided.
ReplyDeleteThe SPLC is only slightly above Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. I say this from personal experience.
ReplyDeleteWhile I have no love for the Klan or the other white power types that have issued death threats against my family I do not find SPLC to be honest or fair in their dealings with people.
I have had no personal experience with either, Hyunchback, nor would I want to. I am well aware of the SPLC and what they stand for. I wouldn't be so quick to say they were any better than Jackson or Sharpton. I think this is a test case. By going after a group like this, that almost no decent person would eagerly wish to defend, they open the door to further and more egregious assaults on civil liberties, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThey are looking to set a precedent. If the Klan can be held accountable for the actions of any person with a connection to them, however tenuous or not, then that makes it easier to hold more legitimate sources to account if their words could be demonstrated to provoke a reaction from some misguided sorts.
With this precedent established, they could easily haul up a Bill O'Reilly or Anne Coulter to court on grounds of "hate speech". Think back to the "nappy-headed ho's" comment by Don Imus. Back then, it resulted in recriminations based on the threat of a boycott of the networks that aired Imus. That was bad enough, but if this or some other group can establish a legal precedent that isn't overturned by a higher court, somebody like Imus could easily find himself hauled into court for saying something like this or something similar. That's the real danger.
The way to deal with the Klan is hold them up to the light of day and let the court of public opinion deal with them. In fact this has already happened. The Ku Klux Klan is a fringe racist group whose numbers are probably easily south of ten thousand in total. Bear in mind the Klans are not united, but are all independent groups. There is no longer one Ku Klux Klan.
That is the way to deal with them, that and prosecuting them in a court of law when there is a demonstrable case to be made against them, and with a lawsuit when appropriate. There is no such case here beyond what criminal charges are to be filed against the individuals directly involved in the assault, and possibly a civil suit against said individuals.
I am not a fan of racial politics or any kind of political correctness, and this strikes me as using the courts to strike a blow in the direction.
I do have great sympathy for the young man who was victimized in this case, and feel that anything he can get out of this case would not be too much. I just don't want to see this case used as a springboard towards stifling legitimate speech. There is actual real hate speech, and you can make a case for prosecuting that when it results in lawlesnness or abuse. What I am concerned about is the shadowy areas where its not so plain.
Extremist groups, such as both the Klan and the SPLC do not like shades of gray. They want everything in black and white. They want a sterilized society.
"The way to deal with the Klan is hold them up to the light of day and let the court of public opinion deal with them. In fact this has already happened. The Ku Klux Klan is a fringe racist group whose numbers are probably easily south of ten thousand in total. Bear in mind the Klans are not united, but are all independent groups. There is no longer one Ku Klux Klan."
ReplyDeleteExactly.
Meanwhile Mark Potok and and SPLC don't have to go and get honest jobs while they live off the money they take from the hate industry.
When Dees initially started this it was well-meaning. It turned into an industry designed to seek and destroy anyone they deem targets. The only proof SPLC needs of your racism is their charge that you are guilty.
Racists that have no money, however, are not of interest to the SPLC. Should you be targeted by a loose association with no holdings, no treasury or land to win in court SPLC has NO interest in taking your case.