Free Speech: Racism vs. First Amendment
by Jennifer West
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

Several years ago, America joined the politically correct bandwagon. Instead of calling someone a garbage man, we called them sanitation engineers. Then America got on this lawsuit kick. You insult me, I sue you for making disparaging comments and for slander.

Racist groups got dealt a blow when the minority groups they picked on started to sue them, and then the backlash began. People no longer wanted to hear what these discriminating and racially motivated organizations had to say.

Although Texas is not in the "Deep South," it does have ties to a particular organization that promotes racial and sexual discrimination. We're talking about the Ku Klux Klan.

Wait, they're still around?

Yep, they're still here.

On April 5, the local Cleveland chapter rented out a city-owned building in Santa Fe, Texas, for an awareness rally to promote and spread the Klan's beliefs and history.

This did not surprise many, since Santa Fe has a history of being a racially motivated town. Last year, an African American girl received death threats from three Caucasian schoolmates.

You would figure, in this day and age, even in the South, people would give up on these outdated beliefs.

Texas' Hispanic population is growing faster than the Anglo population. But still, we have the Klan, trying to spread the word on keeping the "white race" pure.

Although Klan enrollment is down, that isn't stopping the KKK from trying to attract new members.

In the November 14, 2002, issue of the Houston Press, Craig Malisow told readers of a Klan comeback in Montgomery County. The local chapter boasted a new female leader, a first for the Klan, who traditionally has been an all-white, male organization. In the article, the Klan is trying to make a comeback by becoming what they consider a kinder, more politically correct KKK, giving out baskets to needy families, most of which are lower-income minorities.

The article portrayed them as a dying organization trying to breathe new life into antiquated views that ultimately still want to keep the races separate.

When reporters from the UHCLIDIAN went to cover the KKK meeting in Santa Fe, they spoke to several members of the Klan, who happened to be young females. Apparently, being in the Klan has become sort of a family tradition.

The girls told the reporters that their whole families were involved in the Klan, then freely admitted that most of their own families were ignorant rednecks.

Although the police and ambulances came to the event for obvious security purposes, no violence took place. It just seems like the Klan wanted to hold a meeting to receive anyone wanting to join their racist organization.

The KKK has the right to free speech, however we also have the right to ignore the hateful language they propogate.

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