Alabama’s Chief Justice Roy Moore has been resisting a Federal order to begin allowing same-sex marriage in his state. Moore has ordered justices in the state not to perform marriages for same-sex couples, and has sworn that the ruling on marriage equality doesn’t apply to him, or the justices who report to him. Now, Moore’s position, and edicts, have earned him the support of the Ku Klux Klan — and lost him the support of many citizens.
A petition that calls for Roy Moore’s impeachment has quickly grown to nearly 12,000 signatures, surpassing its original goal, and aspiring now to a new goal of 15,000.
“Remove Roy Moore for his inability to perform his duties with impartiality. His blatant religiosity and preferential treatment of Christianity through statements like ‘The First Amendment only applies to Christians’ give enough evidence to doubt his judgement in any case put before him.”
“Because the Separation of Church and State is fundamental to a free society. Roy Moore has shown his inability to be impartial. He has shown himself to be utterly biased and bigoted. He is standing in the court house door against marriage equality.”
Meanwhile, another group is expressing support for Moore: the KKK. It may be relevant to note that the support for Moore is being expressed by the Grand Wizard of the Mississippi Klan, rather than a group within his own state. The Grand Wizard of the group that calls itself the United Dixie White Knights calls on all Klan members to show their support for Moore, and their opposition to marriage equality, alongside the church groups that are already protesting.
The following is taken directly from the KKK statement, spelling and grammar intact.
“We call upon all Klansman and White Southern Nationalist to help in the massive protest’s coming, Not by wearing your colors, but by joining in with the Christian community’s protests that are surly coming against tyranical Federal judges.”
There are, indeed, groups expressing support for Roy Moore on the basis of religious beliefs, and Moore’s Facebook page also bears some comments showing support. On a support page, pastors of local churches thank Moore for his stance.
What support is it, though? The Facebook page supporting Moore has fewer than 6,000 likes — about half as many people as have signed the petition for impeachment. It also does not represent only Alabamians. Of course, the petition, too, bears names from other states, and even other countries, but the vast majority of names there are Alabama folk. If the majority of Roy Moore’s own constituents want him to move forward with marriage equality, and to oppose it has been settled as unconstitutional, continuing to fight equality might not be the wisest career move.
[photo credit: IMG_3491 ]