The permit said one hundred Ku Klux Klan members in hoods would be standing outside

the gates of Augusta State University between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Oct. 23. Instead, one dozen

bedraggled-looking men in fatigues marched onto the lawn, shouted for about a half hour and

left, leaving over 200 counter-protestors wondering what all the fuss had been about.

While officially neutral in the standoff, the school blocked off the main gate during the rally and

closed the front traffic circle to all but emergency vehicles. At least a dozen police offers were

also brought in to ensure traffic flow and that the rally didn’t turn violent.

“Because the event is being held on city property, we’re supporting the county by making the

event as safe to the public as possible,” said ASU Director of Public Safety Jasper Cooke, who

then added, “I think most of these people showed up because they said there were going to be

100 of them and they were going to be robed.”

Although allegedly present to protest the treatment of Jennifer Keaton, an ASU counseling

student chastised for her refusal to counsel gay students, the true nature of the Klan’s mission

was clear to all present: create a spectacle, get noticed, start trouble.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time such groups have tried this tactic. In October 2005, a Neo-

Nazi group planning a march through Toledo, Ohio canceled at the last minute; nevertheless the

resulting counter-protest soon turned violent and resulted in a citywide state of emergency.

“They got want they wanted,” said Toledo mayor Jack Ford. “Based on the intelligence we

received, that's exactly what they do -- they come into town and get people riled up. I think that's

a very common technique.”

Augusta proves that this technique is still in use today, and will likely be used again. Fortunately,

the civil-rights groups involved in this counter-protest had the sense to disperse following thirty

minutes of arguments shouted curb to curb.

“The Klan was clearly in the minority here,” said ASU student and protestor John Greene. “Their

message is antiquated and out of touch and just not relevant, and despite what they said I think

their bigotry was revealed in the symbols they chose to march with.”

While some KKK supporters may be drawn to their historical legacy, the actions of a few

men today in no way reflect the dignity of Confederate Army veterans in 1865. Our national

values, likewise, have moved on, and if anyone dreams of equality for all races and religions an

important first

step may be to sweep away reactionary groups like this one.
“These kinds of events rarely happen, but now that it is scheduled to occur near our campus,

we the students must abstain from taking action or drawing attention to the event,” wrote

student body president Barinaadaa Kara in an e-mail sent to all students the day before the

rally. “This event has the potential of great damage, and as the student body president it is my

duty to advocate the safety and welfare of the students. On behalf of the student body, Student

Government Association and myself, I ask that all students refrain from coming on or near

campus or formulating any action against the KKK rally.”

Standing up for civil liberties is important, especially for a gay community still struggling to be

recognized. However, for groups like the KKK who feed on attention of any sort, perhaps the

boldest statement one can make is simply to ignore them.