Police investigate ‘KKK’ signs on Maine trail
hate crime

Police investigate ‘KKK’ signs on Maine trail


By The Associated Press

HALLOWELL, Maine — Police are investigating the appearance of signs with the letters “KKK” in dozens of locations along a popular walking and bicycling trail in Hallowell and Farmingdale.

Steve Wessler, executive director of the Center for Hate Violence, says he was riding his bicycle on the Kennebec River Rail Trail over the weekend when he came across the defaced signs.

Wessler says the appearance of the scrawled letters “KKK” — shorthand for Ku Klux Klan — is part of a series of disturbing incidents in Maine that followed the election of Barack Obama as president.

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Comments
28 comments on this item

Some dumb a#$ kids, who's parents taught them well............

Mr. Obonga better send some of his security team to investigate.

KKK signs in the maine trails! that doesn't supprise me at all.

now we have skin heads riding around on 4 wheelers! just great!

Maybe not some dunb ass kid but some dunb ass adult. Someone should grow up!! Can't do any worst then Bush!!! LOOK AT THE SHAPE THE COUNTRY IS IN NOW AFTER 8 YEARS, COULD IT BE MUCH WORST????

Now isn't that a coincidence! The executive director of the "Center for Hate Violence" just happened to come across these defaced signs while riding his bicycle. Maybe he was carrying a pocket knife while looking for some publicity?? If this really happened it was most likely the work of some bored kid or mentally challenged adult. Big deal...the story still smells phoney!

Kiss Kids Kindly

This stuff has been going on for years. It just makes better news now that we have a Black President Elect. It is no more or less prevalent than 10 years ago! It is probably some snot nosed kids with nothing better to do!

Geesh!!! Now all Mainers who want to buy white sheets sets will be questioned !!!

I think Steve Wessler needs to find something better to do. Maybe he's looking for an increase in salary and assumes that if he has more work to do, he'll get it. These people should get a life. Right on Tikitorch!

Where is Jessie J. and Al Sharpton when we need them----!!

Read Tikitorch.

I'll bet if anyone gets caught they do more time than a 31 Yr. old molesting a 13 year old.

How do you know it was some snot nosed kid or mentally challenged adult, probably just some smart Butt professional person. "Bama isn t totally black, only half. And Yes we do need a change.

Mr Wessler didn't happen to have a Sharpie , did he?

I have to admit it sounds just a tad odd to me. I agree tikitorch.

clamchowdah thats a good one.. hahahhaahahaa

Anybody who will graffiti, "KKK" is somebody that should be investigated. After Lee Harvey Oswald murdered Kennedy, everybody said Oswald had been a ticking time bomb. After the Columbine massacre, students said it didn't take Freud to see that those guys had a screw loose. After James Earl Ray murdered Martin Luther King, the FBI uncovered a history of rolling around in racist mud. Society ignores these "signs" at its own peril. That is precisely why the FBI investigates people who are compelled to write, "KKK" all over our rec trails. Our tax dollars at work to prevent tragedies no one wanted to recognize until it was too late.

I couldn't help but notice the bdn's attempt to sensationalize this with the words "hate crime" printed just above the headline. Great job bdn. Is there no such thing as journalistic responsibility anymore? The only 'crime' committed that I can see is littering.

Again we see another example of government sticking its nose where it doesn't belong. Advertising for the kkk isn't a crime. Expressing one's opinion, however distastefully done, isn't a crime. It's a protected right under the First Amendment.

Should we "investigate" anyone who draws dirty pictures in a men's room as a potential threat to women? Don't laugh....the day could be coming.

No surprise that JeffEmler is defending the KKK's First Amendment rights. Anyone who thinks this is a case of kids being stupid needs to think again. The scrawled initials KKK imply a threat of violence. If there were a picture of a woman being murdered on a men's room wall, then yes, it rightfully would be investigated.

OBONGA!!!!!!!!! Smoke more......Be free!!!!!!!

The retards in administration are coming out in droves it seems. Thank God we are finding out who they are!

Does this gentleman have a vivid imagination? Hope we all don't go getting physcotic!

When I was in 3rd grade a bunch of boys got in trouble for drawing swasticas (sp). They were not budding nazies, they were kids drawing something they saw on tv that they didn't understand, but that they knew got a reaction. Its not a hate crime, they just need a good parental kick in the butt.

So duckwa, yes kids do stupid things but adults cannot ignore racial hatred. When I was in 1st grade a new kid showed up at my suburban school. He was black and was ganged up on and verbally abused with every racial epithet you've ever heard by the vast majority of my school mates. I didn't understand what most of the invective hurled at my black classmate meant, so when I got home I asked my older sister what the n-word meant, she answered with a punch that left me on my back and dazed staring cross-eyed at the ceiling. That was followed by a brief but informative lecture by my mom. It may have been the best lesson of my life. I'm proud to have taken sides with every African-American family who moved into my neighborhood.

JeffEmler, The Constitution of the United States protects the KKK's First Amendment rights. Oddly enough, the ACLU also fights for that right. I strongly doubt that the KKK would return the favor. The KKK has caused far more death and misery than scrawls on men's room walls. As someone who blurts out fiction as established fact yourself, I find it no surprise that you would leap to the defense of an organization that has murdered thousands of Americans and terrorized millions of others. I suspect that you would defend the right of someone to burn a cross on my lawn. I think it's time for all of you KKK members to take off your hoods, show your faces, and fight through the legal system you profess to be defending. We're waiting.

You do know that most Maine kids (Wash, Hancock county) have never seen an African American or even know what KKK means. I saw 1 Negro as a kid growing up. They really might not know how serious KKK means to SOME people.

Thanks, SteveyDee. That's why it's so important for the history of civil rights in the U.S.needs to be a part of the curriculum starting in elementary school.

As much money as the Democrats are spending on OBONGA he is destined to be a success. He can't fail. Which is a good thing by the way. Atleats the stock market thinks so.

Thank you Bob, only if I can get a good night from Anne I will be able to sleep tonight.

Oh my goodness. Good night 2 u, my dear Stevey D.

JeffEmler, what I'm trying to say is I'll support the right to say anything, but that doesn't mean I support anything that is said. Steveydee, I'd like to say nighty night too. Sleep well and have a safe Thanksgiving.

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