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Kentucky Man, KKK Leader, Convicted on Littering Charges for Distributing Propaganda Flyers in Ohio
An individual from Kentucky, identifying himself as a leader within the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), faced legal repercussions after distributing propaganda leaflets across several Ohio neighborhoods. William Bader, who claims the title of ‘imperial wizard’ in the Trinity White Knights faction of the KKK, made a striking admission in court regarding his role in the organization and the flyer distribution. However, Bader’s conviction stemmed not from the content of his flyers, which are largely protected under the First Amendment, but from littering violations.
Littering Charges Instead of Speech Content
Despite openly professing his leadership in a KKK faction and disseminating flyers with controversial messages, legal constraints related to freedom of speech meant Bader was not prosecuted for the propaganda itself. Instead, a judge found him guilty on two counts of littering. These charges arose from Bader’s actions of discarding flyers from his vehicle and directing others within his group to similarly distribute the leaflets, according to reports from the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Flyer Content and Police Body Cam Footage
Police body camera footage captured evidence of the flyers Bader was discarding in February. The leaflets contained messages stating: ‘Leave now. Self deport. Avoid Detention. Americans On Guard. Help us Protect our Homeland.’ This footage played a key role in the proceedings, documenting Bader’s actions and the nature of the distributed materials.
Confrontation in Court and Defendant’s Defiance
During a municipal court appearance, Judge Bernie Bouchard questioned Bader about the potential impact of his beliefs on others. The 47-year-old KKK member remained unrepentant, reiterating his convictions emphatically. ‘I grew up like this and nobody’s going to change me,’ Bader declared, addressing the judge, prosecutor, and officers involved in issuing the littering citations.
Financial Penalties for Littering Offenses
As a consequence of the littering convictions, Bader received financial penalties. He was mandated to cover court expenses and pay a fine of $100 for each ticket, potentially totaling approximately $700.
Arrest Details: Neighborhood Watch and Police Stop
Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputies apprehended Bader in the early hours of February 23. This occurred after the authorities received a report concerning a man scattering flyers in Lincoln Heights, a Cincinnati suburb. Members of the Lincoln Heights neighborhood watch had monitored Bader’s vehicle until Deputy Jacob Hornback intercepted and stopped him in Lockland around 3 a.m.
Confession and Scale of Flyer Distribution
Deputy Hornback’s body camera recorded Bader confessing to throwing out roughly 4,000 flyers. Initially, Bader contested the citation, arguing that officers had not personally witnessed him littering. However, his stance shifted when informed that witnesses in Lockland had observed him distributing the flyers. Bader admitted to disseminating the flyers across 16 towns along Interstate 75 en route to Cincinnati, a journey originating from Toledo the previous night. Bader also acknowledged he was not acting alone, stating, ‘It wasn’t just me… There’s quite a few of us out tonight.’
Flag Incident and Prior White Supremacist Activity
In addition to the flyer distribution, Bader admitted to removing a ‘Peace and Love’ flag displayed by community members. The flag had been erected over an I-75 overpass following a white supremacist demonstration weeks prior. Video evidence from a neighborhood watch member showed an officer holding the flag during Bader’s traffic stop. Bader claimed the officer was attempting to incriminate him by citing the flag removal.
Past KKK Involvement and Confederate Flag Protest
During his trial, Bader attempted to retract his previous statements regarding his role in the flyer distribution. He alleged court corruption and denied his fingerprints were on the flyers, claiming he only directed others to distribute them. He affirmed his lifelong affiliation with the KKK since childhood. In July 2015, Bader was photographed at a protest outside the South Carolina Statehouse in Columbia, clad in a KKK ‘imperial officer’ uniform. He and approximately two dozen others protested the removal of the Confederate flag from the government building, waving Confederate flags in support of their cause. Counter-protesters were also present, leading to confrontations and minor altercations, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Confederate Flag Removal and Historical Context
South Carolina’s decision to remove the Confederate flag marked a significant shift, as it was the first state to secede from the Union. This secession, followed by other Southern states, precipitated the Civil War, a four-year conflict resulting in nearly 600,000 American fatalities.