A local Sussex County Nazi group has adopted a road near Lewes to clean up.
About three months ago, Lewes resident Edward McBride applied to adopt a highway on behalf of his political party – National Socialist Freedom Movement Nazi Party. McBride’s request was denied by Delaware Department of Transportation.
When asked why, DelDOT officials took an ethical stance against McBride’s request. Geoff Sundstrom, DelDOT director of public relations, said in an email, “The application was denied because the state will not lend its property – in this case its highway signs –or its name to a group whose purpose by the applicant’s own admission is to deny the civil rights of its citizens.”
I guess DelDOT needed some trash to pick up the trash along the road.
Cedar Grove Road in Lewes is now home to a little blue sign that reads “Freedom Party” and represents a local Nazi group. McBride said about 45 members of the party live in Sussex County and hold meetings once or twice each month in Lewes and Rehoboth Beach.
McBride said he is still trying to adopt a highway under the name Nazi Party, and he believes the law is on his side. “This is a Constitutional matter; this goes against my freedom of speech,” he said.
McBride said he wants to advertise the party’s presence in the county. “We’re not afraid to get out there in broad daylight and do something for the community,” he said.
I don’t see this as a First Amendment issue. If McBride and his valkyries want to get their “message” out to the general public, why don’t they take an ad out in the Cape Gazette and advertise their meetings? I’ll tell you why – because they’re chickenshits. They really like to operate in the shadows, much like the night riders of earlier Sussex County history. I wonder if they’ll be cleaning up the road in full uniform.