The Auburn Plainsman Managing Editor, Mikayla Burns, and Editor-in-Chief Chip Brownlee were regularly delivered The Democrat-Reporter that has made national news for publishing an editorial that called on the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) to “ride again.”

It was these two student journalists’ discovery that brought this horrible article to light and was able to cause an uprising against the racism this Linden newspaper published for everyone to read.

Since the two Auburn Plainsman leaders have tweeted about the editorial, several professional groups immediately took action.

The Alabama Press Association voted to censure The Democrat-Reporter’s publisher, Goodloe Sutton, and the Auburn University Journalism Advisory Council voted to strip Sutton of his awards he has received.

The University of Southern Mississippi also removed Sutton from their Hall of Fame.

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said he was “shocked and disappointed by the naked racism of the editorial.”

“Any student of Alabama history knows that there was a time when members of the Ku Klux Klan were active and effective political advocates who were fully engaged in all aspects of Alabama life,” Merrill said.  “That day has long since passed and is not looked at favorably by any well-meaning citizen of our state. The stigma associated with that history is difficult for well-intentioned members of our society to overcome whenever negative statements are made by well-respected individuals that give credibility to hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan.”

Let’s not forget who first brought this attention to light.

Students.

Journalist students are often times not taken seriously, but it is events like this that proves that no matter where you are in your career, you are able to make a difference if you are competent in what you do.

We commend these students for exposing the horrible racism this newspaper has put into the world, and we know their future is bright in their careers.