U.S. Supreme Court Takes Klan`s Side In Adopted Highway Program

The Ku Klux Klan can take part in Missouri`s "Adopt-A-Highway" program. The U.S. Supreme Court has let stand a ruling today to let the white supremacist group take part in the program that lets a group adopt part of a highway and take care of it. Volunteers pick up trash along the road and the state puts up a sign thanking them. The state of Missouri rejected the Klan`s application to take part, citing its history of violence and the fact it denies membership based on race, color or national origin. A U.S. appeals court ruling declared the state had violated the Klan`s consti tutional free speech rights. Missouri appealed to the Supreme Court in order to avoid giving motorists the impression that Missouri condones the group. State officials thought allowing participation may even encourage those against the Klan to throw more trash, defeating the program`s purpose. Alabama, Arkansas, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Vermont all supported the appeal. The high court`s rejection of Missouri`s appeal marked the second time it had considered the issue. It denied a similar appeal by the state in 2001.