LSU fans heading to Oxford Mississippi may encounter the Ku Klux Klan as they go to the LSU - Ole Miss game on Saturday.
It stems from the university ending a tradition at football games. The band has been instructed to stop playing a medley in which many fans in the stands chant "The South shall rise again."
The Klan claims stopping the playing of the song is a violation of free speech. The KKK has released the following statement:
"The Mississippi White Knights Of The Ku Klux Klan are aware of Ole Miss Chancellor Dan Jones and his attack on our Southern Heritage and Culture. He has already banned 'The South Will Rise Again' from being said at Football Games and has now banned "From Dixie With Love" from being played at those same Football Games. This is a direct violation
of the right to freedom of speech and will only continue because a hand full of people at Ole Miss want to force change on the University Of Mississippi that will destroy the Culture and Heritage on the Ole Miss Campus. Ole Miss should embrace its Southern Heritage and Culture and reject the Liberal Communist Revolution that is taking place."
Listen to The Mississippi White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan "Exalted Cyclopse" Bill Reid:
Reid says the protest will be peaceful and has nothing to do with "black and white." He says it is about the constitution.
Ole Miss responded Friday.
"We are always surprised and disappointed that the extremest groups from outside our community still promote long discredited and offensive ideas. Nevertheless, the University embraces the values of the First Amendment and free expression, so when someone or some group wants to express its views on our campus, even offensive views, we try to find ways to accommodate them," Assistant Vice Chancellor Thomas J. (Sparky) Reardon said in a released statement.
Reardon added that the Klan is expected to follow all laws and policies.
Reardon later called WWL:
He says while they will allow the demonstration, "From Dixie With Love" will not be performed at the game. Reardon said, "Because it became the vehicle for a chant that our students use which is in direct conflict with we stand for as a university."
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