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Ku Klux Klan. Domestic Terrorism By: Monica DeHart, Aida L. Wilhelm & DaVette Henderson. Ku Klux Klan Facts. Definition : “1. A secret society organized in the South after the Civil War to reassert White supremacy by means of terrorism” ( www.answers.com , 2007, p.1). Classification :
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Ku Klux Klan Domestic Terrorism By: Monica DeHart, Aida L. Wilhelm & DaVette Henderson
Ku Klux Klan Facts • Definition: • “1. A secret society organized in the South after the Civil War to reassert White supremacy by means of terrorism” (www.answers.com, 2007, p.1). • Classification: • Fringe Right • Strength: • less than 500 members
Ku Klux Klan Facts • Source of Income: Membership dues and sales of KKK paraphernalia. • Also known as: American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Imperial Klans of America, and Knights of the White Kamelia. • Last offense: • unknown
Background Information • Post Civil War: • 6 middle-class Veterans of the Confederate Army founded the Ku Klux Klan. • December 24, 1865: Ku Klux Klan established. • Modern day Fraternal Organization: expressing their beliefs of a supreme race White Power.
The First Era of Ku Klux Klan • President Ulysses Grant demolished the Ku Klux Klan in the 1870’s under the Civil Rights Act. • 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act (www.wikipedia.com, 2007). • Began by humor and eventually turned into hatred and terrorism towards non-white’s. • Key Target was African Americans also known as- NEGRO’S!!! (www.wikipedia.com, 2007).
Nathan Bedford Forrest • Nominated as the “Grand Wizard” which was the Klan’s national leader (www.wikipedia.com, 2007, p.3). • 1867 Meeting to compose a formal membership of the KKK. • Forrest is quoted by George Gordon as stating “…that’s a damn good thing. We can keep them niggers in their place” (www.answers.com, 2007, p. 10).
Activities of the First Era • “The Klan sought to control the political and social status of the freed slaves” (www.wikipedia.com, 2007, p.3). • “Specifically, it attempted to curb black education, economic advancement, voting rights, and the right to bear arms” (www.wikipedia.com, 2007, p. 3).
Activities of first era cont… • KKK Targets: • School teacher’s, Operatives of the federal Freedman’s Bureau and Black member’s of the Local Leagues. • The Klan killed over 150 African Americans in one county in Florida (www.wikipedia.com, 2007, p.3).
The Second Era of Ku Klux Klan • In 1915, William J. Simmons (Grand Wizard) re-established the second era. • Simmon’s was inspired by the movie “Birth of a Nation” by D.W. Griffith (www.adl.org, 2007, p.3). • Politics: • More organized and focused on political and social reform. • Membership: • 4 million • Mostly in Midwestern states
William J. Simmons • Elected in 1915 at meeting on Stone Mountain. • Sought to form a fraternal organization. • Based on comprehensive Americanism. • Recruited post WWI and patronized conflicts occurring in U.S. • “Now let the Niggers, Catholics, Jews and others who disdain my wizardry, come out.” (www.wikipedia.com, 2007, p.7).
Second Era of the Ku Klux Klan • Advocated: anti-jewish, anti-catholic, anti-communists and anti-immigant (www.wikipedia.com, 2007, p. 8). • Republican & Semi-Democratic.
“Violence” of the Ku Klux Klan Lynching Whippings Murders Tar and feathering Bombings Shootings Floggings Beating and sexual assaults
Hate Crimes of the KKK • Lynching • 1915 the Lynching of Leo Frank • March 20, 1981 lynching of Michael Donald
Hate Crimes of the KKK • Bombings • Alabama Church: • September 15, 1963 • 4 girls killed and 22 adults injured • Recent findings • May 17, 2000: clarifications on Church bombing • FBI aware of bombings
Hate Crimes of the Ku Klux Klan • In 1977 Joseph Paul Franklin (Former KKK member & serial killer ) was indicted for bombing a synagogue in Chattanooga, Tenneessee. • He called it a “synagogue of Satin” (www.query.nytimes.com, 2007, p.1)
Hate Crimes of the KKK • In 1951 the Ku Klux Klan bombed Harry T. Moore’s home. (school teacher & State Director of NAACP) • 40 years later the FBI & KKK conspired with local authorities to carry out the bombing
Current Chapter • Female Bands: • Blue-Eyed Devils • Angry Aryans • Prussian Blue • Believe in White Supremacy • Source of Education: • 1950’s racist textbooks • Lyrics: • "Strike force! White survival. Strike force! Yeah." (F:\Bakersfield girl band Cute Klux Klan.htm, 2007, p.1) • "We are proud of being white. We want our people to stay white we don't want to just be, you know, a big muddle. We just want to preserve our race." (F:\Bakersfield girl band Cute Klux Klan.htm, 2007, p.1)
References • www.adl.org • www.answers.com • F:\Bakersfieldgirlbandcutekluxklan.htm • www.query.nytimes.com • www.wikipedia.com