Charlotte, May 29—Mayor D.M. Abernethy early today wired Harry F. Ward of New York, chairman of the American Civil Liberty Union advising that the scheduled debate between representatives of the American Association for the Advancement of Atheism and the Anti-Evolution League next Monday and Tuesday night will take place outside this city, and therefore not within our “police jurisdiction.”
The telegram was in reply to one received from Mr. Ward saying “we are advised the Ku Klux Klan in your city have publicly threatened to prevent” the debate and urging proper protection be afforded” so that the constitutional rights of free speech and assemblance are maintained.”
Resolutions were adopted and made public by the local K.K.K. shortly after Dr. T.T. Martin of the anti-evolution league issued his challenge. The resolution put the klan on record as opposing any debate in which an atheist was to participate. Later a new story was published crediting an official of the klan would see to it no atheist should make a public address here, but this statement was later repudiated by an official of the klan.
The Charlotte Observer will say tomorrow that it was advised tonight by two officials of the klan that the organization stand ready to place 500 men at Lakewood Park on the occasion of the debate to see that order is maintained and that the speakers suffer no interference. Lakewood Park is just outside the city limits, it was explained.
The Observer will say that while the klan is on record as opposing the debate, it is ready to take action to maintain the constitutional right of free speech.
From the front page of The Goldsboro News, Sunday morning, May 30, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn93064755/1926-05-30/ed-1/seq-1/
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