Mo. neo-Nazis join `Adopt-A-Highway' trash cleanup
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- NoGodsNoMasters
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A neo-Nazi group has joined the state's "Adopt-A-Highway" volunteer litter pickup program, taking advantage of a free speech court fight won four years ago by the Ku Klux Klan.
The Springfield unit of the National Socialist Movement has committed to cleaning up trash along a half-mile section of Highway 160 near the Springfield city limits.
Two signs noting the group's membership in the Adopt-A-Highway program went up in October but drew attention only recently when the group picked up litter as part of a gathering in Springfield.
The state says it had no way to reject the group's application. A 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling arising from a similar effort by the Ku Klux Klan says membership in the Adopt-A-Highway program can't be denied because of a group's political beliefs. At the time, the state could reject applications for the program from groups that denied membership based on race or had a history of violence.
"It's a First Amendment thing, and we can't discriminate as long as they pick up the trash," said Bob Edwards, a spokesman for the transportation department's office in Springfield.
(For the rest of the article go to http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090122/ap_on_re_us/nazis_highway)
The Springfield unit of the National Socialist Movement has committed to cleaning up trash along a half-mile section of Highway 160 near the Springfield city limits.
Two signs noting the group's membership in the Adopt-A-Highway program went up in October but drew attention only recently when the group picked up litter as part of a gathering in Springfield.
The state says it had no way to reject the group's application. A 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling arising from a similar effort by the Ku Klux Klan says membership in the Adopt-A-Highway program can't be denied because of a group's political beliefs. At the time, the state could reject applications for the program from groups that denied membership based on race or had a history of violence.
"It's a First Amendment thing, and we can't discriminate as long as they pick up the trash," said Bob Edwards, a spokesman for the transportation department's office in Springfield.
(For the rest of the article go to http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090122/ap_on_re_us/nazis_highway)
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shroomfairy
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At least they're willing to clean up the road!
- 3 years ago
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shroomfairy
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RCS
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If the Reverend Jeremiah Wright and his followers wanted to adopt a section of highway for clean-up, they would have the right to do so. Therefore, these people have the same right. In both cases, it would be more useful than what they are currently doing now.
- 3 years ago
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RCS
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pjacobs51
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I live in Springfield and saw this in the paper yesterday. I'm waiting to see if they wear the Nazi uniforms when they pick up trash, would make a sweet video, lol.
- 3 years ago
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pjacobs51
