The City of Anniston, Alabama, placed two police officers on administrative leave Wednesday, following a watchdog group’s article alleging the pair are members of an organization described as a hate group.
The article, published on the Southern Poverty Law Center blog Hatewatch, states Lt. Josh Doggrell and Lt. Wayne Brown belong to the League of the South, a group the organization describes as “neo-Confederate.” According to the watchdog, the League advocates for a Southern secession and a society dominated by “European Americans.”
The city responded to the article by placing the two on leave and starting an investigation, according to a statement released by spokeswoman Aziza Jackson.
“After being made aware of the Wednesday, June 17 article by the SPLC, the City of Anniston is taking the allegations made against Lt. Brown and Lt. Doggrell very seriously and have placed both officers on administrative leave. Lt. Brown and Lt. Doggrell do not speak for the City of Anniston nor the Anniston Police Department. The City of Anniston has commenced an investigation into this matter and will work diligently to ensure the appropriate action is taken.”
The Southern Poverty Law Center article is mostly centered on Doggrell’s membership and includes a video of a speech he gave at a League of the South conference in 2013. According to the article, Brown joined him at the conference.
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SOURCE: NBC News, Becky Bratu
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