The local NAACP has proposed that the Cape Girardeau City Council pass laws, such as march permit measures and a "dehooding" ordinance, in an effort to counter a possible Ku Klux Klan rally here next month.
At a meeting with black leaders and others Wednesday afternoon, Police Chief Howard Boyd Jr. said the proposals will be forwarded to City Attorney Warren Wells.
"I think possibly some city codes may be a viable option," said Al Plummer, executive director for the Missouri Commission on Human Rights and one of those who attended the meeting, held at the Cape Girardeau Police station.
About 20 people attended the meeting. They included Cape Girardeau police officers, NAACP members, black student leaders at Southeast Missouri State University, university personnel including campus police officers, Riverfest officials and Plummer.
The meeting was held to deal with the possibility of a "white pride" demonstration and Ku Klux Klan cross-burning on June 13. Leaflets circulated in the community earlier this year advertised that several Aryan organizations would hold a rally at 3 p.m. that day in front of the Cape Girardeau City Hall. The leaflets also indicated that the demonstration would be followed by a "cross-lighting" on private property.
Boyd said the leaflets were distributed by an 18-year-old man, Jerry Stegall, who within the past three weeks has left the Cape Girardeau area.
"This kid is singlehandedly responsible for distributing this information in the city," the police chief said.
Boyd said Stegall had been on probation for a misdemeanor crime. He said Stegall is now wanted for a probation violation.
Boyd said he notified a number of federal, state and county law enforcement agencies about the announced demonstration.
He said that information from those agencies and the Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights group that monitors Klan activity, suggests such a rally here is unlikely.
"We don't think this thing will take place," he said.
However, he said the police department would be prepared to deal with a Klan rally should it occur.
It was announced at Wednesday's meeting that a community coalition will be formed to take a stand against racism.
In addition, Riverfest Association officials will consider taking a public stand on the issue. The city's annual Riverfest celebration in Cape Girardeau will be held June 12 and 13.
"We certainly don't support the Klan or any hate group," said Greg Talbut, president of the Riverfest Association.
But he said public pronouncements by well-intentioned citizens might only encourage the Klan. "We have always felt you can make it happen by making too much noise about it."
Black leaders, however, said the community needs to actively oppose racism and groups such as the Klan.
Boyd said the June 13 date for a possible KKK rally at City Hall is of particular concern since the site is only a few blocks from the downtown area, where Riverfest will be held. The annual summer festival attracts thousands of people.
City Councilman Doug Richards, director of the Department of Public Safety at Southeast Missouri State University, attended Wednesday's meeting. He said he would be "very supportive" of looking at the possibility of enacting city ordinances to deal with the possible KKK rally.
The NAACP is calling for the city:
To enact a dehooding ordinance that would prohibit participants in public marches and gatherings from wearing masks or hoods to hide their faces.
To require groups to obtain permits in order to parade or march in the city, and to require a 90-day waiting period to allow for public comment before such permits are issued.
To publicly disclose the name of each organization seeking a parade or march permit and the officers of such groups.
To ratify and enforce a law against ethnic intimidation.
Boyd said the legality of some of the measures proposed by the NAACP would have to be studied.
He said he didn't think it would be practical to require a 90-day waiting period before a march permit could be issued, and he questioned if a dehooding law might legally end up applying even to children dressed in Halloween costumes.
Michael Sterling, president of the Cape Girardeau County chapter of the NAACP, warned against complacency.
"This Klan thing could get out of hand. We should not take it lightly," he said.
Debra Willis of the NAACP lives only a block away from City Hall. She said that she is concerned about taking her 1-year-old son to the Riverfest celebration were the KKK rally to occur.
"I don't think we can overlook the fact that there has been Klan activity in the Midwest," said Sterling. "The best way to deal with the Klan is to defuse it."
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