Tea Party Editorial Cartoon

On April 13th the LaGrange Daily News published a scandalous "cartoon" on its Op/Ed page. It suggests that Tea Party groups are racist and in league with the Ku Klux Klan. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The LaGrange Patriots organization firmly believes in our US Constitution and in the First Amendment. The LaGrange Daily News' selection of this cartoon is not, however, a matter of free speech. It is a matter of judgment. This particular syndicated cartoon was selected from perhaps dozens of alternatives for publication. This is not a matter of freedom of the press. It is a matter of decency and common sense. We have received calls and e-mails registering concerns and in many cases outrage over that cartoon.

In our small and somewhat intimate community, I believe this newspaper has done a regrettable disservice to our citizens and to the LaGrange Patriots. The mere suggestion that our group is composed of racists or KKK members is repugnant to us. When one considers the racial make-up of this community, one could easily interpret that graphic as inflammatory. LaGrange Patriots is a group of concerned citizens exercising our legitimate right to free assembly and free speech. We come in many colors and from many different backgrounds. The choice of this insulting cartoon which implies that we are a racist organization is deeply offensive.

We encourage all who read this to voice their concern and outrage to the LaGrange Daily News in forceful but courteous and lawful ways. We have requested an apology for their unfortunate choice of material for publication.