Arkansas building owners conceal 'KKK' welded on facade

FORT SMITH, Ark. — The letters "KKK" that were welded on an Arkansas building have been replaced with U.S. Marshals stars after one of the owners called it "offensive" insignia that's commonly associated with "a shameful organization."

The concealment comes after the Southwest Times Record reached out to Fort Smith Mayor George McGill earlier this year to ask about the "KKK" — letters denoting the white supremacist group the Ku Klux Klan.

McGill then reached out to the building owners Richard Griffin and Benny Westphal, who agreed to cover them, the newspaperreported. McGill is the city's first black mayor who took office in January.

"Those letters are offensive to several residents in Fort Smith, many of whom are good friends of ours. I've never walked in their shoes, but I certainly wouldn't want to send the wrong message to anyone," said Griffin, adding that he believes the KKK is "a shameful organization."

Read more: http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/arkansas/story/2019/aug/27/arkansas-building-owners-conceal-kkk-welded-facade/792467/