Imperial Klans of America Loses Civil Lawsuit

The right to free speech has undergone some controversial tests regarding the most vile speakers, like the Naxis and the KKK. Countless arguments have been had on how hard the KKK can be prosecuted for their calls for violence and hate speech. How much can a hate group be charged and punished for if they incite violence? Apparently, it is at least the amount of $2.5 million dollars.

The Imperial Klans of America, a Kentucky chapter of the KKK, lost a civil lawsuit that will cost them $2.5 million dollars in liability damages. The Imperial Klans of America's grand wizard, Ron Edwards, was found responsible for creating the environment that led to the beating of a minority teen in July 2006.

Jordan Gruver, a 19-year-old boy, was beaten up by Klansmen who broke his jaw, arm and ribs. The men were members of the Imperial Klans of America. As their leader, Edwards was suspected of either ordering the attack, or at least creating the circumstances and hate in the attackers that led to this assault.

On that argument, Edwards was put on civil trial and sued for inciting the Klansmen to want to commit their attack. The trial made bigger news since the Imperial Klans of America is the second largest KKK group in the country. The IKA owns a 15 acre compound nearby Dawson Springs, Kentucky.

With the defeat in civil court, if Edwards and the Imperial Klans of American actually pay up, the $2.5 million dollar loss will cripple the group and result in them possibly losing their compound. But Edwards said he would not give up "one penny" even after the verdict.

The case against the Imperial Klans of America was argued by Morris Dees, who has previously sued groups like the Aryan Nation. One former Klansman testified that Edwards himself asked him to kill Dees after his lawsuits, but Edwards was not ultimately charged himself after the plot was foiled.

Gruver's victory comes three years after the attacks, which have left him so psychologically damaged that he is afraid to leave his house, and had tried to slit his wrists two years ago.