Hearing Could Determine Scope Of Nationalist's Jena Rally On MLK Day
News Star (excerpt)

A favorable ruling by a federal judge could mean the Nationalist Movement can hold its "Jena Justice Day" rally and march without the town of Jena's proposed revisions, attorneys say.

The Nationalist Movement, a group that describes itself as "pro-majority" but is widely reported to be a white supremacy organization, will be in Alexandria's federal court on Tuesday along with representatives from the town of Jena for a hearing regarding a temporary restraining order.

The Nationalists allege the town's ordinance requiring a $10,000 bond along with the parade route change and ban on firearms are unconstitutional.

"I don't believe in having a price tag for constitutional rights," said Gregory Aymond, the local attorney for the group based out of Learned, Miss.

Aymond, who has admitted past membership in the Ku Klux Klan, said he doesn't share the Nationalists' racial views but does support their rights of freedom of assembly, speech and expression and their Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms.

Richard Barrett, an attorney and member of the Nationalist Movement, said Aymond's past had nothing to do with his selection as the group's attorney. Barrett said he called more than a dozen attorneys seeking local counsel but that all were unwilling to "become involved in the controversy."