KKK Shows at Kennett March for Heather Ellis

Members of the Klu Klux Klan have joined the crowd of onlookers in Kennett, Missouri at a march in support of Heather Ellis.

The march was organized in part by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and until moments before the march, the permit had been revoked only to be reinstated later Monday morning.

The 1.5 mile march began at the Wal-Mart parking lot where Heather Ellis is accused of assaulting officers after a verbal altercation with a store cashier when Ellis cut line in January 2007. The march will end in front of the courthouse.

According to FOX13's Les Smith, the march has proceeded peacefully. Approximately 20 supposed members of the KKK are among those lining the streets, holding signs with KKK slogans and swastikas.

One arrest of an alleged skinhead was made prior to the march.

Witnesses have told authorities that Ellis cut in front of waiting customers at the Wal-Mart in Kennett on Jan. 6, 2007, shoved merchandise already placed on a conveyor belt out of the way, and became belligerent when confronted, according to court filings.

Ellis maintains she was merely joining her cousin, whose checkout line was moving more quickly. She claimed in a written complaint to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People that she was then pushed by a white customer, hassled by store employees, called racial slurs and physically mistreated by Kennett police officers.

Police say in court documents that Ellis refused requests to calm down and leave the property, allegedly kicking one's shin and splitting another's lip while resisting arrest.

Following her arrest, Ellis alleged, she was thrown against doors on the way into jail and an officer later twisted her shirt with his knuckle to choke her while she was in custody.

Ellis has no prior arrest record, and was pursuing a medical career at the time of the incident. She has since moved to Louisiana.

Ellis is scheduled to go to trial Wednesday, and faces 15 years in prison.

FOX13 will have a complete report live from Kennett on FOX13 News at Five, as well as the latest developments right here on myfoxmemphis.com.