Former Klan Leader Sworn In as Member of La. Legislature
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BATON ROUGE, La. — Former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke overcame two last-minute efforts to block him from taking his newly won seat in the Legislature today and was sworn in as a member of the Louisiana House.
Rep. Odon Bacquet objected to letting Republican Duke take his seat, claiming that he did not meet the residency requirement, but Bacquet’s tactic failed when the House voted 69-33 to table his motion. Duke, who now heads the National Assn. for the Advancement of White People, then was sworn in. Outside the Capitol, about 25 students--both black and white--chanted “Don’t seat Duke, keep Duke out.”
Just before the House met, a state district judge in Metairie, which includes Duke’s district, refused a request by defeated House candidate John Treen for a restraining order to prevent his taking the seat. Treen appealed to the state Supreme Court.
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