Southern Poverty Law Center Wins $2.5 Million Verdict Against Imperial Klans of America

[babylonsister]

SPLC Wins $2.5 Million Verdict Against Imperial Klans of America



The Southern Poverty Law Center today won a crushing jury verdict against one of the nation's largest Klan groups for its role in the brutal beating of a teenager at a county fair in rural Kentucky.

The $2.5 million verdict will likely cripple the Imperial Klans of America, which has 16 chapters in eight states.

"The people of Meade County, Kentucky, have spoken loudly and clearly. And what they've said is that ethnic violence has no place in our society, that those who promote hate and violence will be held accountable and made to pay a steep price," said SPLC founder and chief trial attorney Morris Dees, who tried the case. "We look forward to collecting every dime that we can for our client and to putting the Imperial Klans of America out of business."

The SPLC brought the lawsuit on behalf of Jordan Gruver, who was 16 when he was attacked in July 2006.

The jury deliberated for approximately five hours before delivering the verdict against IKA Imperial Wizard Ron Edwards and two former IKA members, Jarred Hensley and Andrew Watkins, both of whom served two years in state prison for assaulting Gruver. The SPLC earlier reached settlements with Watkins and one other Klansmen.


more...

http://www.splcenter.org/news/item.jsp?aid=345&splcnewsletter=newsgen-111408

[MountainLaurel]

1. Impressive

I know there have been some threats against SPLC involved in this case.

[Kaleko]

2. About time to end the American Middle Ages

[jhrobbins]

9. My partner and I have been so open for so long that it never occurs

to us (especially him, he's younger) to pull back a bit. It's a conundrum.

[EFerrari]

3. Thank you, good people!

:woohoo:

[Idealism]

4. "...delivering the verdict against IKA Imperial Wizard Ron Edwards."

So does this mean Knight Templar Bill Cunningham will be promoted?

[GardeningGal]

5. How is it that you would know any names of people that could

be promoted in the KKK?

[goforit]

8. Easy to do.

[RoyGBiv]

10. Bill Cunningham is a known wingnut ...

He has a little radio show and is the idiot who was spouting off claiming Obama wanted to gas Jews.

The connection is not real hard to make.

[Idealism]

13. I hope to god that wasn't a serious question...

[GardeningGal]

17. Well, yes it was. But I can see by the responses that I've

received that many others know these names off the top of their heads. I had read the article and it didn't mention his name so I was just wondering how you knew. Apparently it is somewhat common knowledge.

And to answer the other poster about hate groups in Colorado, no I don't follow them. I am a monthly contributor to SPLC and they are also in my will because they do great work but I don't follow hate groups as a rule. I prefer to focus on the good groups out there.

[Idealism]

18. Apologies

was a lame attempt at a joke, didn't mean to rile up your KKK-dar

[tnlefty]

15. I'm not trying to be nasty, but are you aware of the groups

in CO?

Women for Aryan Unity - Denver
National Knights of the KKK - Olathe
Nationalist Coalition (Neo-Nazi) - Denver for starters.

I try to keep up with the groups in my state and those groups who are in close proximity to me along with the groups in other states who are friendly with the groups in my state. It's difficult at times to remember the names of the leaders within the groups, but The Southern Poverty Law Center is a good resource, and they even have a state by state map of hate groups.

splcenter.org :hi:

[goforit]

6. The SPLC has been so successful through the years. Morris Dees, Hats off to you!

[nichomachus]

7. Now, if we could only file a suit against the Mormon Church for it's hate activities

And the Catholics
And the fundies

[Donald Ian Rankin]

14. That would be the kind of precedent that you can bet you'd come to regret.

"Hate activities" is a very broad term.

[tnlefty]

11. I was getting ready to post this! You beat me to it.

I hope that the young Mr. Gruver continues to improve.

To Mr. Dees :loveya: and the staff at SPLC :loveya:, thanks for all of your work, and another small donation will be coming your way.

To the FBI agent(s) who thwarted this groups attempt on Mr. Dees life, thank you and job well done. :patriot:

For all of humanity, :toast:

[NNN0LHI]

12. Hitting them where it hurts

[tnlefty]

16. Just a kick...

this has me giddy...:kick: