Ohio officials discuss hate crimes before Klan-related rally

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Federal and local officials in Ohio are discussing how to prevent and respond to hate crimes at a public meeting ahead of a Ku Klux Klan-related group’s rally planned next month.

The Dayton Daily News reports today’s meeting is part of scheduled programming by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Rob Streck expected a larger turnout than usual because of concern over the May 25 rally planned in Dayton by a Klan-related group from Indiana.

Streck says there’s “a lot of angst” about the rally. He hopes public discussion may help.

The county says it issued the rally permit because it’s legally obligated to provide access for people to exercise their freedom of speech and assembly rights.

U.S. Department of Justice officials also were to speak at this afternoon’s meeting.