A federal district judge says the Missouri Department of Natural Resource could not prevent the Ku Klux Klan from renting a part of a Civil War historical site for a picnic. But it is unlikely the picnic will take place after the judge also required the Klan to post a $1,800 bond and obtain $300,000 in liability insurance. -db
By Joe Harris
ST. LOUIS (CN) – Missouri parks officials cannot bar the Ku Klux Klan from holding a picnic at a Civil War historical site this weekend, a federal judge ruled. A Klan officer sued the state on Wednesday after the Department of Natural Resource refused to rent it a pavilion at the Fort Davidson State Historic Site.
Ancona told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he’s not sure if the event, scheduled for Saturday, will be held due to financial considerations. Judge Sippel required the Klan to post a $1,800 bond and obtain $300,000 in liability insurance.
Ancona says the Klan chose the site, 85 miles southwest of St. Louis, because 1,000 Confederate soldiers lost their lives there during a raid in the Civil War. Ancona said the Klan wanted to hold a barbeque and games, such as a bean bag toss and a duck pond. Children who won would be given Confederate flags.
The Klan also planned to hang its banner, a U.S. flag, a Confederate battle flag and a Klan insignia. Some attendees would be in robes and hoods, he said.
Anthony Rothert of the ACLU represented Ancona.
Copyright 2010 Courthouse News Service