Group With KKK Ties To Set Up Booth At Mississippi State Fair

WAPT ^ | POSTED: 4:40 pm CDT September 23, 2004 | Staff

[WKB]

JACKSON, Miss. -- The Mississippi State Fair opens in two weeks, but it's already losing money.

A group with ties to the Ku Klux Klan, called the Nationalist Movement, is planning to set up an information booth at the fair -- a plan that's driving away some businesses and customers.

The group's leader, Richard Barrett, calls it a "pro-majority" group. The Anti-Defamation League calls it white supremacist.

Either way, the group's attempts to set up shop aren't sitting well with the fair commission.

"I've been here for three years and gone to the fair every year," said Ramie Mitchell. "This year, I think the tradition will end. I don't think we'll be there this year."

Mitchell said she won't be bringing her two boys to the fair if Barrett's booth is there.

Barrett said he wants to spread his group's message and honor the Rev. Edgar Killen, who was acquitted in the 1964 murders of three civil rights workers in Neshoba County.

Barrett said the booth is an extension of his First Amendment right to free speech.

"You have more freedom today because of what Richard Barrett has won for you in freedom of speech than you had yesterday," Barrett said. "Because of this exhibit and this preacher, you'll have even more freedom tomorrow."

The Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency doesn't want to get caught in the middle. It's pulling its $300 booth from the fair to avoid any association.

"The nature of what's going on over there could upset alot of people," said agency spokeswoman Dani Edmonson. "Aand if we're there, they may not be very happy with us being in the same vicinity of someone like that."

Both the fair commission and Barrett say they've received verbal threats.

"They say, 'I'm gonna find out where you live and stab you and kill you,'" Barret said.

But Barrett said the threats won't dissuade him.

As for Mitchell, she said she won't change her mind about staying away.

"I think it should be an embarrassment to the state," she said. "We ask for outsiders to come here, and it's a slap in the face."

[Hank All-American]

Another group with strong historic ties to the Democratic Party.

[WKB]

Gov. Haley Barbour said of Richard Barrett:
"Nobody pays any attention to him.
Everybody knows he is a nut"

[WKB]

Another group with strong historic ties to the Democratic Party.



Maybe Robert Byrd will show up.

[Wiggins]

Maybe Robert Byrd will show up.

The Grand Wizard Himself!

[rdb3]

Let them have the booth. Then set up a booth directly across or beside them that highlights the historical union of the Democrats and the Ku Klux Klan.

I love free speech. It's so very American!

$710.96... The price of freedom
VII-XXIII-MMIV

[TheBigB]

Then set up a booth directly across or beside them that highlights the historical union of the Democrats and the Ku Klux Klan.

You have a very Machiavellian mind. I respect that. ;-)

[onyx]

Haley is right of course,
but I still do not want them
given permission to set up their booth.

[Dan from Michigan]

I figured it would be a historic dem booth...
Byrd, Fritz Hollings, Jim Moran, Klinton's boy Fulbright.......

[Ethyl]

Senator Rober Byrd, is the head of the KKK, or used to be, take him down!

[rdb3]

You have a very Machiavellian mind. I respect that.

Really? Well, The Prince is in my top 10 list of favorite books. Guess it shows, huh?

$710.96... The price of freedom
VII-XXIII-MMIV

[Sthitch]

I do not hate much, but when I do, I leave it for turds like these. Why is it that they always call these scum right wingers? I am a right winger, and I have no relation to these sh** bags.

[eyespysomething]

Let them set up their booth and then they should be shunned.

Freedom and consequences.

[wardaddy]

I agree with you.

White extremists should not be held to higher standards than any other extremists simply cause they are peckerwoods.

They could put this gang next to La Raza and NOI and a few other dainties.

[Clemenza]

Uh, I've been to meetings of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and I can't remember them calling for lynchings.

Bad comparison, my friend.

[takenoprisoner]

Meantime Americans Armstrong and Hensley have been beheaded in Iraq.

There something about priority some folks just don't get.

Where's your outrage at the beheading of these guys?









Whe

[rdb3]

Jesus! Do any of you have any good reasons for hating the KKK? Or are you only judging them by their portrayal by Hollywood?

How ya doing, Kluxer? Stormfront having bandwidth problems tonight?

$710.96... The price of freedom
VII-XXIII-MMIV

[vpintheak]

I don't think so hoser.