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Despite protests by a vast majority of local residents, members of the Ku Klux Klan say they'll rally in Pittsburgh without a permit from Mayor Murphy. So adamant is Murphy that he will "fight all the way to the Supreme Court to keep them out" (the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).
Pittsburgh's city laws dictate that a permit is required when rallies are likely to disrupt the flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic and when loudspeakers are used. Klan leaders had indicated in applying for the permit that they might also march and they asked to use a sound system. Here's what some locals have to say, taken from our Pittsburgh Speaks! page: They should be told in no uncertain terms, "GET OUT." If they sue, fine. Let them drain their bank accounts in court, then they won't have any power. 3/5/97 22:11 Those idiots just want attention. If we just ignore them, they'll go away. 3/6/97 11:40 legally they probably have the rightto march downtown just like anyother group (religious or whatevr). if we can just convice the media to stay home and not cover it, they'll go home weeping becausethey didnt accomplish their task 3/6/97 14:18 I feel that groups like that are a reflection of our area. Allegheny COunty has a crisis as far as the black situation - being isolated within the confinements of the city, having poor education, and no job opportunities. Our county obviously has no concern about the sitiation of the black populations. By disallowing the KKK to rally would infringe on their first amenmdnt right - for there are no laws against ignorance and hate that they breed. I Blame our government officials, and the people of the county for being a place where the clan would want to march. It is all of us, in this area who feed groups such as the clan with our own personal bigotry. 3/6/97 15:37 a bunch of losers with violent intolerable views, should be run out of Pittsburgh on a rail, Must we be politically correct and embrace all mens views. Not at the expense of humanity! 3/7/97 10:43 They should just go back to skulking around in the woods like they usually do. 3/7/97 16:33 Unfortunately we in this country have take everything too far as far as "rights" are concerned. Morality, ethics and common decency are not taken into consideration any longer so the KKK with probably be allowed to march as the constitution guantees freedom of assembly, but I seriously doubt that our forefathers had this in mind. I am also sure that the ACLU will jump right in if they are denied the right to march and they are one of the reasons this whole country is out of wack now. No I don't want to see them march here they make me sick and I hope the news media is not going to be standing around licking their chops hoping this turns into a riot or attempts to exaggerate the whole thing. Hopefully if they are ignored they will just dry up and blow a way. Visit the OnTV Bulletin Archive.        
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