Ku Klux Klan Sends Message To Predominantly Black Neighborhood
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Ku Klux Klan Sending Message To Predominantly...
People who live in Greeneville's Meadowlark Subdivision say white supremacists are singling them out. Several homeowners in the mostly black neighborhood say earlier this month, in the middle of the...
Nate Morabito/11 Connects
People who live in Greeneville’s Meadowlark Subdivision say white supremacists are singling them out. Several homeowners in the mostly black neighborhood say earlier this month, in the middle of the night, the Ku Klux Klan dropped off hate mail in their front yards. They say they found about two-dozen KKK flyers along Benbow Road and Outer Drive.
The two different flyers are titled “Wake Up White America & Take A Stand” and “10 Steps To A Better America.“ The flyers denounce interracial marriage and homosexuality among other things. The literature also calls for a secure future for the KKK’s “White Christian Children.“
“The Devil is busy and (the KKK) talk about being Christians, how can you say you’re a Christian displaying all this hatred,“ homeowner Leroy Ripley wondered.
At the request of homeowner Steve Meriweather, the Johnson City-Washington County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is now looking into the situation.
“I think that it’s a shame that here in 2009, we have a group of people that are walking around with a 1960’s mentality,“ Meriweather said.
The NAACP is standing behind the neighborhood, arguing the KKK, which lists its state headquarters as a P.O. Box in Kingsport, broke the law.
“Why you hating someone you don’t even know?,“ Johnson City-Washington County NAACP President Joyce Goines wondered. “You’re upsetting people and they may not know what’s going to happen when they leave their home or (when) they’re coming in at night.“
Still, the Greeneville Police Department says the people responsible for the flyers may not be guilty of any crime.
“The only actual crime that occurred in this situation would be possibly littering,“ Greeneville Capt. Terry Webb said.
Webb says investigators alerted the Federal Bureau of Investigation due to the nature of the flyers, but says it would be difficult to prosecute the KKK since its members were practicing free speech.
“People might not agree with what they’re saying, but there was no threats of violence or anything along that line,“ Webb said.
However, for people like Edward Reed who received one of the flyers, that is a hard sell.
“It’s a crime to me,“ Reed said. “That’s like they don’t want me living the way I see I’m supposed to be living.“
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Reader Reactions
Cowards. Only coming out in the middle of the night. People like this should be charged with hate crimes and locked up.
despicable.
I am mixed white/Native American and proud of my heritage, even though I don’t know much about it. I am most importantly a born-again Christian. How on earth someone can hate anyone and call them self a true Christian is beyond me. God created all men and women, no matter where they come from or what color their skin is. Jesus Christ died for all men and women on the cross. Let’s stop the hate.
to the kkk. Shame on you claiming to be Christian and still spreading hatred.
Moses was married to a Ethopian (black)
woman. BETTY
As a white Tennessee resident, I would like to send a message to the KKK:
We will NOT tolerate your racism, and discriminatory actions. You seem to find some sick pleasure in creating fear. However, we are not afraid of you, nor do you have the power to make us afraid. The only message that you have sent to East Tennessee is that of your own ignorance, and for that I pity you.
Most white residents of Tennessee do NOT agree with your practices. I fully stand by the African-American communities of this state and will not sit by while you disgrace Southerners and make us all look like redneck fools.
As for your so-called religion, ask yourself: Why would the Creator of the universe CREATE a variety of people so that you could show hatred and intolerance towards them? Your actions are in direct opposition to that which created the UNIVERSE.
It is my opinion that you should live your life free of the shame that causes you to wear a mask. Live life in the brightness of day and take no part in the ugliness of the world.
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