Town in Uproar After Nazis 'Adopt a Road'

[Galleywench]

I'd think about boycotting the damn route or think seriously about organizing a dump trash day right by the sign ....(pay the littering fine and take up a collection to do it again)



PORTLAND (Jan. 30) - The American Nazi Party has volunteered to pick up trash along a quiet stretch of rural road in Oregon state, causing an uproar after getting a sign placed there crediting its work.

The issue has flared up in the same week that world leaders and aging survivors gathered in the Polish town of Auschwitz to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the infamous Nazi death camp.

"American Nazi Party" reads the sign, which is part of the the "Adopt-A-Road" program, a widely promoted U.S. scheme encouraging local groups to clean up road litter in exchange for recognition on small signs.

The sign, located on a quiet stretch of road near Salem, Oregon, also lists the initials "NSM," which stands for the National Socialists Movement, another white supremacists group.

Marion County officials say there is nothing they can do about the Nazi litter pick up because barring the group from the program would violate its First Amendment free speech rights.

"I myself have gotten at least 30 complaints," Dan Estes, the senior policy advisor to the Marion County Board of Commissioners said. "We knew there was going to be a great deal of public outcry."

The Klu Klux Klan "adopted" a stretch of road in Missouri. After several legal battles, U.S. courts ruled that attempts to block the white supremacist group from the litter program was a violation of its free speech.

Neither the American Nazi Party nor the National Socialists Movement immediately responded to attempts to reach them.

The Oregon county put up the two signs at a cost to taxpayers of about $500, Estes said. If the signs are destroyed, the sponsoring organization must pay for replacements.

Any group sponsoring a litter pick-up must clean the roads twice a year. They must be a recognized organization, but it is usually a Boy Scout troop or civic organization.


01-30-05 07:59 EST

[rosefaeries]

I am not surprised that this happened. I am just surprised at the location. I thought for sure when I first started reading that it would have been located outside Eugene Oregon not Salem. Eugene is a bit notorious for this type of thing. (Don't get me started about the cross removed from Skinner's Butte. It was a war memorial.And it wouldn't surprise me at all if this ruining x-mas started here in Eugene.)

[Magdalene]

In regards to the aforementioned KKK vs. Missouri--do what my homestate of Missouri did when the KKK wanted to take part in the "Adopt A Highway" program, and the Supreme Court said they had to permit it.

They gave the KKK a stretch of highway, then promptly renamed it "The Rosa Parks Highway".

(The KKK never showed up to clean it, which meant they got permanently dropped from the program.) *evil grin*

[Pathos]

The Oregon county put up the two signs at a cost to taxpayers of about $500, Estes said. If the signs are destroyed, the sponsoring organization must pay for replacements.

I love that bit. All we have to do it take out the signs. You think the Nazi's will be happy about shelling out 500 bucks to replace them? Even if they do...take 'em out again! I'll bet they'll cave in REAL fast once it starts costing them some serious green for their stupid signs!!! :lol:

[Galleywench]

In regards to the aforementioned KKK vs. Missouri--do what my homestate of Missouri did when the KKK wanted to take part in the "Adopt A Highway" program, and the Supreme Court said they had to permit it.

They gave the KKK a stretch of highway, then promptly renamed it "The Rosa Parks Highway".

(The KKK never showed up to clean it, which meant they got permanently dropped from the program.) *evil grin*


Love it!!!

[Muireadach - PirateRogue]

The Oregon county put up the two signs at a cost to taxpayers of about $500, Estes said. If the signs are destroyed, the sponsoring organization must pay for replacements.

I love that bit. All we have to do it take out the signs. You think the Nazi's will be happy about shelling out 500 bucks to replace them? Even if they do...take 'em out again! I'll bet they'll cave in REAL fast once it starts costing them some serious green for their stupid signs!!! :lol:

I would suggest finding several police officers in the area who hate the signs as well and checking with them to make sure the road will be clear of officers, then, wrap a chain around them and yank them out signpost and all. the expensive part of the signs is the actual instillation of the signpost, so just removing the sign isn't going to make them spend 500.

[Pathos]

I would suggest finding several police officers in the area who hate the signs as well and checking with them to make sure the road will be clear of officers, then, wrap a chain around them and yank them out signpost and all. the expensive part of the signs is the actual instillation of the signpost, so just removing the sign isn't going to make them spend 500.

Yeah that or just hit 'em with a Sawz-All at ground level. Take about 4 seconds and no need to bother the police. :wink:

[daBaroness]

Since I'm the mother of two bi-racial sons, you can imagine the KKK and other racist organizations are not my cup of tea.

That said - I love the solution we came up with here in Missouri!

OK - and that said. I'd ignore the whole darned thing. Giving them attention for this is EXACTLY what they planned. If no one raised a stink - they'd soon give up - just like little kids.

I hate it when the media gives so very much attention to these hate-mongering crackpots - the KKK, nazis, Fred Phelps and his self-procreated congregation ... ignore 'em and they'll dry up and blow away - taking their toys to another sandbox.

[Dmitri]

Here's the rub...America is BASED on free speech... even hateful, unpopular speech...

The thruway right next to Nyack is sponsored by some Jewish community society. Sorry, but if they can have one so can the Nazi's... You can disagree... But that's why this nation's great.

And as for vandalizing their sign, while I don't agree with them, that makes you as bad as they are... And then your just as guilty of hate as they... you hate their point of view and what they stand for... Be self-righteous all you like... but there is no difference...

[Kae]

You are so right Dmitri. I have no problem with their right to speak. The more they speak, the more people know about their existence and the easier the hate is fight.



Kae

[Cyranno DeBoberac]

And as for vandalizing their sign, while I don't agree with them, that makes you as bad as they are

Yes, it makes you bad, but I'd stop short of saying it makes you as bad.

I mean, when it comes to badness, the Nazi's do set a pretty high bar....

[Dmitri]

And as for vandalizing their sign, while I don't agree with them, that makes you as bad as they are

Yes, it makes you bad, but I'd stop short of saying it makes you as bad.

I mean, when it comes to badness, the Nazi's do set a pretty high bar....

You know, the Nazi's say the same thing about Jews. Again, same thought process...

I don't believe in hate crime... Which means I believe that you can think or say whatever you want... Vandalism is vandalism, whether you're ripping out signs or spray painting epithets... you are trying to instill fear, despair and hopelessness... Either "We can't get away from this..." or "we can't keep paying $500"...

Both sides will find the strength in their convictions... "we will not be scared, we will not be turned from our religion or point of veiw..."

Take the moral high ground, it IS the same...

[Cyranno DeBoberac]

I was just contrasting vandalism and genocide, but I agree with your general point. :)

And for the record, I disagree with vandalizing the signs.

[Dmitri]

Hey I was NEVER comparing those two...

And what these *NEO*-Nazi's are doing, or have done, is NOTHING like the holocaust... None of them were involved... And that's a Warcrime... Most of these mooks weren't even born yet...

[justLori]

When the KKK applied for the same thing in our county a few years ago, the county discontinued the program to keep from having to approve their application. It was an election year, too.

I think the Rosa Parks Road renaming is a great solution!

just Lori