Nazis adopt a highway
Jan-26-2010

The normally controversy-free Adopt-a-Highway Program is drawing quite a bit of attention lately.

A one mile stretch of roadway in Brighton has been adopted by a group that many wish would go away, a group of white supremacists, who say they just want to clean up the roads.

"Our first motivation is to clean up the trash," said Neal Land.

He's part of the National Socialist Movement's Denver area chapter. The group, which refers to itself as America's Nazi Party decided to adopt a one mile stretch of highway north of Denver. Not surprisingly they were met with heavy resistance.

After numerous months and several conversations, the group was initially told they were not approved to adopt the highway.

Upon further review, state highway officials reversed course because lawyers said they could be in violation of the right to free speech.

"Courts around the country have allowed white supremacist groups to sponsor highway signs," said Bruce Deboskey of the Anti-Defamation League.

Despite the controversial volunteers people say they don't have to agree with them but it is their right to free speech.

"In order to have our freedom," said Deboskey, "We have to allow for all types of speech and this is an example where hate speech is protected. It's a white supremacist group, it's a neo-Nazi group."

George Dorson of Grand Junction agrees, free speech should be protected whether he agrees with it or not.

"So if they wanna clean up the highway that's fine as long as they clean up the highway and don't do any damage and don't try to spread their propaganda," Dorson said.

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