New York, NY, April 7, 1997...The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed surprise that America Online (AOL) is hosting "The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan - Realm of Texas" Web site and, according to a recent report, does not regard the site as violating its terms of service. In the past, the League has been gratified by the responsiveness of AOL to complaints about racism and bigotry but now calls on AOL to adhere to their terms of service regarding hate material with equal vigilance as those regarding pornography.

"Your 'Rules of the Road' prohibit attacks based on a number of characteristics including 'a person's race, national origin, ethnicity or religion,'" said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, in a letter to Steve Case, Chairman, America Online, Inc. "They clearly state that 'hateful language . . . is not allowed.'"

"While the materials accessible through the Klan page may not contain explicit calls for violence," continued Mr. Foxman, "they reflect hate, vulgarity and abuse far more profound and troubling. Hate, even with a face-lift, is as dangerous, repulsive and corrupting as the pornography you unhesitatingly remove."

According to ADL, the particular branch of the Klan using AOL preaches a pseudo-religion called "Identity" Christianity that claims Jews are the spawn of Satan and all other non-Whites are "mud-people." The KKK site also links to a number of sites that are filled with inflammatory racist and anti-Semitic material.

"While we strongly believe in freedom of speech and do not advocate censorship on the Internet," said Mr. Foxman, " we expect those companies which have created guidelines to adhere to them."

AOL's terms of service state that AOL, Inc., its affiliates and ICPs have the right to remove content they deem, in their discretion, "harmful" or "offensive." The League calls on AOL to live up to its own commitments.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.