[Pippoles]

Not quite the same situation, but it would be difficult to be a member of the KKK and hold a DoD/NSA security clearance.

[skydaypat]

True, but police unions are extremely powerful. Once on the force, it can be very, very difficult to get fired, for any reason. You should hear the stories the wife brings home from work...

[kjsdiuwe]

If you think that police officers in the US can belong to a blatantly racist organization without fear for their jobs then you're sadly mistaken.

Being eligible for a government job is not a fundamental right.

My understanding* is that the BNP winks at racism and such, but officially doesn't hold extremist views. They maintain a claim of deniability when it comes to the racism, saying that individual members hold these views. If you're a member of a group in the US that is clearly racist, but doesn't explicitly say so, I'm pretty sure you'd be allowed to be a police officer.

Are there examples of people in groups that don't explicitly advocate racism being denied employment?

*Obviously I know nothing of the BNP

[Pharmaciest2007]

*Obviously I know nothing of the BNP

They're racist mother****ers, every man jack of them. Without being racist you have no hope of membership. They should all burn in whichever circle of hell Ben reserves for those who accuse President Obama of not being American.

[zoolissentesy]

My understanding* is that the BNP winks at racism and such, but officially doesn't hold extremist views. They maintain a claim of deniability when it comes to the racism, saying that individual members hold these views. If you're a member of a group in the US that is clearly racist, but doesn't explicitly say so, I'm pretty sure you'd be allowed to be a police officer.

Are there examples of people in groups that don't explicitly advocate racism being denied employment?

*Obviously I know nothing of the BNP

I have no idea whether there are examples or not that would fit your criteria. I do know that this is NOT a matter of freedom of association.

[Inconykic]

Is there really a difference between a member of the BNP having a government job in the UK and a member of the GOP having a government job in the US?

[ChexEcodece]

I think you're probably right about that.

[Darnisg]

Is there really a difference between a member of the BNP having a government job in the UK and a member of the GOP having a government job in the US?

If you're not being facetious, then yes, there is an enormous difference.

[uranbigis]

It's worth remembering that the BNP isn't just a racist organisation. It's an organisation that has, for many years, been controlled by people with serious criminal records.

As well as the near-inevitable convictions for incitement to racial hatred, the BNP national executive also contained convicted bombers, and others with records for crimes of violence. That tends to sit uneasily with employment with the police.

[PefeFoesk]

There's a strong faction from Northern Ireland, yes.

[golozhopik]

True, but they must go unarmed and with no military clothes, medals or symbols.

[MwhwF6bp]

I have no idea whether there are examples or not that would fit your criteria. I do know that this is NOT a matter of freedom of association.

I America we extend extraordinary leeway in terms of association. It's a Constitutionally guaranteed right. As long as your group stays legal, you can't be punished for being a member. If the BNP advocated lynching, I could see the blanket prohibition. Otherwise it looks like a politicization of police recruitment, i.e. punishing someone for being a member of a rival political party.

[TamreuddyRada]

Okay, that was lazy thinking on my part.

[kvitacencia]

So you're saying we shouldn't let Muslims be cops?

[AnetTeilor]

Whichever are the ones who deny the Holocaust and want to push the Jews into the sea.

[Retapleapse]

Whichever are the ones who deny the Holocaust and want to push the Jews into the sea.

Field Muslims, then...

[AgowlSown]

The point being, the gov't is subject to restrictions on its ability to discriminate here, i.e. it's butting up against the 1st Amendment right to free association.

The right to free association doesn't apply in the case of government employees; the successful witchhunt of Van Jones is proof enough of that.

[StethyEntinic]

The point being, the gov't is subject to restrictions on its ability to discriminate here, i.e. it's butting up against the 1st Amendment right to free association.

The right to free association doesn't apply in the case of government employees; the successful witchhunt of Van Jones is proof enough of that. Nice one, though the obvious response is that Van Jones was a political appointee.

[saruxanset]

Political appointees have the same fundamental rights as other government employees.

No. But again, nice troll.

[MedicineForUs]

No, what I responded to was "this is not a matter of freedom of association". It is; it's an edge case where the balancing works in favor of the government.

xpost

You're right; I shouldn't have made that strong a statement.