Lawyers for the Ku Klux Klan argued before an appeals court that they should be able to adopt a portion of a north Georgia road.
The white supremacy group sought in 2012 to receive recognition from the state for cleaning litter from a one-mile stretch of road near the North Carolina state line. Georgia transportation officials rejected the request to join the adopt-a-highway program and the KKK chapter sued.
The Court of Appeals of Georgia heard arguments on Thursday about whether the state violated the group’s constitutional right to free speech. The state has cited public safety concerns and said the program is aimed at “civic-minded organizations” - not hate groups.
The court is expected to decide the issue in the coming months.
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