ACLU: American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio
Keeping America Safe and Free
Criminal Justice Voting Rights Immigrant Rights LGBT Rights Juvenile Justice All Issues
RSS Feeds
Join Now (raise public awareness)
Donate Now (make a tax deductible gift)
Calendar (see a full list of events)
Email Alert (get information on the issues)

08.03.99

Ohio ACLU Supports City on Klan March

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio Foundation today praised the City of Cleveland and Mayor Michael White for the efforts to protect the First Amendment right of marchers scheduled to rally in Cleveland later this month. The August 21st rally by the Ku Klux Klan has been the source of considerable controversy, with some community leaders critical of the decision to allow the Klan to march at all. Others have criticized the mayor for a decision allowing Klansmen to use a police garage to don their robes and hoods. While recognizing the offensive and racist nature of the Klan's message, the ACLU today commended White for allowing the marchers to prepare in an environment safe from physical violence. "From our perspective, allowing the use of the police garage is a public safety issue, nothing more nothing less. It doesn't mean the mayor endorses what the Klan has to say; it means he takes seriously his duty to avoid violence and preserve law and order," said Christine Link, Executive Director of the ACLU.

The Klan has a well established right to speak under the First Amendment, and the mayor has an obligation to allow that speech to go forward on public property. "The mayor has taken a tough stand on a difficult issue," said ACLU Legal Director Raymond Vasvari. "No one expects his position to be popular, but the First Amendment extends its protection to even the most vile of speech. The mayor has a legal duty to protect the First Amendment rights of unpopular speakers, and to ensure that they can deliver their message in an ordered environment, free from violence. So far, he has done his duty admirably: Mayor White should be commended."