Qld: Proposed KKK visit could be a hoax

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-2000
Qld: Proposed KKK visit could be a hoax

By Steve Connolly

BRISBANE, Feb 10 AAP - Police plan to monitor a proposed Ku Klux Klan rally in Queensland
later this month even though they suspect it may be a hoax.

Circulars being delivered around the state's southeast have said Grand Dragon William
Roberts of the Imperial Klans of America would be the guest speaker at a rally on February
26.

The circulars invite the "white public" to the meeting at Brookvale Park, near Oakey,
about 200km west of Brisbane, to witness a cross lighting ceremony.

No drugs or alcohol allowed.

A Queensland police spokesman said today the owners of Brookvale Park had no knowledge
of the rally and investigations had failed to find any other information about the proposed
gathering.

Despite suspicions the rally could be a furphy, extra police are likely to be sent
to the area on the day in case of trouble.

"It looks like it (the rally) is not going to go away until the day has come and gone,"

a police spokesman said.

The proposed rally has also put the Immigration Department into action with Australian
officials in the United States asked to find out whether Mr Roberts has applied for a
visa.

Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said today Mr Roberts' name had been added to his

department's "alert list" but he was non-committal on whether the KKK man would be allowed
into Australia.

"The framework of the law dealing with character would apply and a decision-maker would
have to deal with it appropriately," Mr Ruddock told ABC radio.

Circulars, advertising the KKK visit, said the Klan was on the move in Australia and
that the "white majority" must send a message to Canberra that people are "fed up with
insane policies relating to reconciliation, multiculturalism and homosexuality".

No contact numbers have been included with the circulars, only post office box numbers
in Melbourne, Sydney and Coonabarabran in central west NSW.

AAP sc/ah/br

KEYWORD: KLAN NIGHTLEAD

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