Florala

Issue date: 9/20/07 Section: News

As the cars started to pull into parking spaces outside the courthouse in downtown Athens, people stared. An F-150 with a rebel flag taped to a stick in the bed of the truck held three young, white males wearing jeans and sleeveless T-shirts. They jumped out and began to dress in their group's more traditional garb. Then they were greeted by a fellow Klan member, dressed in all black, with an unmistakable Hitler salute.

The Ku Klux Klan rally on Saturday, Sept. 15, in downtown Athens, was met with heavy local resistance, said Athens Mayor Dan Williams.

The Klan spouted traditional lines of "keep the race pure," "those freakin' Mexicans," and, "90 percent of people in prison are black."

At one point, San Francisco was referred to as "San Fagcisco," and the Klan blessed AIDS.

They implied that only black men rape. They quoted scripture, said that Morris Dees was going to hell and claimed to love people-even those protesting their presence in Athens.

Athens resident Tremaine Kirby, who was there with his three children, said, "I don't think what they're saying echoes the town's feelings at all. It's just funny. I saw one of these [rallies] a long time ago. I was in the military and I've been a lot of places and to come home and see that this is still going on-it's just funny."

He also said his kids didn't know what was going on.

"They just think it's people up there talking," Kirby said.

The Klansmen spoke in front of City Hall from behind numerous barriers, flanked by Athens Police Department officers.

"This was a thing that we permitted even though we didn't want to. They finally agreed to follow our process of applying and we had to grant it," the mayor said.

Despite a statement earlier in the day by an Athens police officer that they expected no problems, the Klan, and the crowd, were dispersed by the APD and the Limestone County Sheriff's Department around 3:45 p.m.

That was more than an hour shy of the 5 p.m. limit set by their assembly permit, and only about an hour into their presentation.

Williams said it was because the crowd got "feisty."

Florence resident and photographer Justin Michael said, "I've been to a couple other of these and this one was definitely more intense. There was more negative energy."

Just before it was ended, a number of people in front of the crowd were yelling "go away KKK" to answer the cries of "white power."

"The majority of the crowd (of an estimated 400 people) comprised a protest group (from local Presbyterian, Methodist and Episcopal churches.)

"I'd say there were about 25 Klan members up there talking and only about 25 or 30 people in the crowd clapping for them," Williams said.

There were other protesters independent of the church group.

Athens resident and Tanner High School graduate Tiffany Shoulders said she saw a teacher from Tanner that she recognized, but would not name, supporting the Klan.

"I just came to see what was going on. It's really sad. I don't want to live here anymore," Shoulders said.

The protesters from the local churches surrounded the block holding signs that said "love," and had a permit to assemble on the sidewalks. They intended to remain silent, but soon, they were inching forward, breaking their silence to shout back, and eventually joining the main crowd in the street in front of City Hall.

"If the protesters hadn't been here today, there wouldn't have been nearly this many people," Williams said.

"This just makes Limestone County look bad," said a Limestone County Sheriff's Deputy. "These people aren't even from here-they're from Indiana, Russellville, other places."

Jose Guerrero, owner and operator of Hispanic Media Services in Athens, said he was proud of the Hispanic community for not showing up.

"We told them to stay away because coming here wouldn't do anything but sow seeds of discord. This city already has enough racial tension," he said.

Guerrero said he has experienced some of this racism personally, but would not specify.

Athens resident Brendan Simmons said he only came to take photographs to send to his uncle.

"I'm going to send him these pictures to show him that the Klan exists. He lives in Seattle, and he didn't think it was real," Simmons said.

A couple of Klan supporters, who would not give their names, said they came to support the Klan because the Klan was there supporting them.

"We're from Giles County, home of the Klan. That's why we're here," they said.

After the rally was disbanded, the Klan was ushered into City Hall while the street was cleared.

Once most of the protesters were gone, they were escorted to their vehicles by the APD. As members of the Klan were climbing into the bed of a truck, some of the remaining protesters screamed "Jesus loves you," and warned that riding in the bed was illegal. They were answered with extended middle fingers.

"Now all we have to do is pick up some cups and a few pieces of trash and you'll never even know they were here," Williams said.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools