He Ku Klux Klan (Hereinafter KKK) is known as the first far right association in the United States, founded in 1865 after the Civil War.
Their primary objectives arose out of discontent among the veterans of the war who belonged to the group, who disagreed with the abolition of slavery to which they opposed during the National Reconstruction.
With this, one of the oldest far-right organizations of the United States was born. Today it is considered a terrorist grouping, since it resorts to violence as a main method to promote its ideals of rejection before the black race, homosexual people, Jews and the exaltation of the white race as the superior race.
History
First phase
The founders were: J. Calvin Jones, Frank O. McCord, John B Kennedy, James R. Crowe, Richard R. Reed, and John C. Lester, all Confederate veterans outraged by the condition of his people.
Then a general organization of the local Klans was established and settled in Nashville for the year 1867. The first individual to be part of the group was Nathan Forrest, who was a prominent general in the Civil War. These members stood out because they wore masks, white cardboard hats and white sheets.
Using their characteristic uniform, they killed and tortured black Americans and whites sympathetic to the abolition of slavery and equal rights.
Subsequently, immigrants also became a target because they were credited with the election of radical republicans. As a result of these actions, the KKK had a stellar participation in the restoration of the white rule in North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.
The goal of the organization, like other similar groups that promoted the superiority of the white race, was to prevent the black race from gaining the right to vote.
However, Republicans in Congress pressured President Ulysses S. Grant to take action against KKK, so in 1870 a thorough investigation was begun on this.
The following year, a grand jury announced that:"There has been an organization known as the Ku Klux Klan, or invisible southern empire since 1868, in many state counties."
Also describing the violent methods used by the clan to terrorize black citizens in the south. So President Ulysses S. Grant in 1871 signed the Civil Rights Act of 1871 , Which gave the power to all citizens to sue before federal courts for those who violate their civil rights. Due to its parallel connection, this law was also known as"The Ku Klux Klan Act".
Second stage
In 1915, the KKK was restored by William J. Simmons , A preacher who was greatly influenced by the book of Thomas Dixon called: The Ku Klux Klan , Published in 1905 and its film adaptation, The Birth of a Nation ( The Birth of a Nation ) Run by D.W. Griffith.
At this stage was perceived the importance of the media at the time. The release of the film generated much stir at the national level because it was told the experiences of two families that symbolically represent the north and south. In the story he extols the KKK's activities and stands in favor of white supremacy by describing the daring scenes of KKK members.
After the release of the tape, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was KKK's main enemy. With World War I, it was also against those who considered foreigners: Communists, Jews, Socialists, Roman Catholics, etc.
One event that supported the new policies of discrimination towards foreigners was the case of Leo Frank, a Jewish immigrant who was accused of raping and murdering Mary Phagan, being a very media case in the country.
Leo Frank trial and lynching
With the leadership of Simmons, the organization grew and its members exceeded 4000. By the year 1920, some members of the clan were chosen to hold public office. These included state officials from Maine, Texas, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Oregon.
At times, several members of the clan were arrested after committing serious crimes, but at that time it was very unlikely that they would be convicted by jurors in the southern states.
The objectives of the organization during this stage were based on:
- To protect the weak, defenseless and innocent in the face of the indignities and offenses of the violent outlaws of the law.
- Protect and defend the country's constitution.
- To reclaim those who are oppressed and injured and to help those who suffer, the unfortunate especially the orphans and lives of the Confederate soldiers
- Assist in the implementation of constitutional laws.
Nevertheless, the second phase of the KKK concluded with the dissolution of the group due to the negative social reaction that they had and mainly by the media projection that provoked the case of David Stephenson, a clan member who was found guilty for violating and assassinating Madge Oberholtzer.
Third phase
After the dissolution of the KKK, different independent groups began to resurface, but the number of members declined in the following years:
- 1925: 4,000,000 members
- 1930: 30,000 members
- 1970: 2000 members
The most relevant of these independent groups was The White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, which was led by Robert Shelton. These groups began a series of violent acts to intimidate all those who were in favor of the Civil Rights Movement. Among his most outstanding acts are:
- Medgar Evers, an organizer of the NAACP, was murdered in Mississippi by Byron De La Beckwith, a member of the clan.
- The church explosion on 16th Street in Alabama, with members Robert Chambliss, Thomas Blanton and Bobby Frank Cherry guilty.
- The murder of Vernon Dahmer leader of the NAACP in Mississippi.
- The murder of Viola Liuzzo.
- The murder of Willie Edwards Jr, members of the KKK, who was forced to jump off a bridge.
In 1964, the FBI, through its Counterintelligence Program (COINTELPRO), initiated a KKK infiltration plan with the intention of dismantling it.
However, the COINTELPRO and its command had a confused position in front of the civil rights movement, since it was also composed of groups of extreme left like of religious organizations.
It was a difficult few years and the rumor was that one of the Liuzzo assassins was an FBI infiltrator, which brought many inconsistencies to the case.
Finally, in 1982 it became known that after many efforts they had disintegrated the organization.
Prior to all this, the KKK directed its movement to boycott acts in favor of African-American citizens' right to vote, the racial desirability of school buses and, in general, anything that had to do with the rights of blacks and immigrants.
These violent acts include the one in 1971, when several members decided to blow up ten school buses in Pontiac, Michigan. In addition, one of the most charismatic KKK leaders, David Duke, was involved in the Boston Bus Crisis in 1974.
Duke was not only involved in terrorist acts, but also created NAAWP (National Association for the Advancement of the White People) in 1980. This nationalistic organization was based on KKK values and its concept of superiority Of the white race.
At this time, opposition to the KKK became more noticeable and common due to acts of violence and E L KKK suffered from countless lawsuits.
For the year 1981, the incident with Michael Donald that concluded in a lynching, brought with it a legal dispute that concluded with the bankruptcy of United Klans Of America.
Nowadays
Today the KKK maintains its activities thanks to the support of different groups of sympathizers that no longer surpass the pair of thousands. Therefore, it is considered that the institution no longer exists.
In its annual report for 2002, the Anti-Defamation League reported that:"... there is no such a Ku Klux Klan today. Fragmentation, decentralization and decline have continued uninterrupted."
However, it was emphasized that"the need to justify still persists in discontents, and is unlikely to disappear, regardless of how low the fate of the Klan comes."
However, by 2015, in a report by the same organization titled"Assassinations and Extremism in the United States in 2015,"the organization emphasizes that of the 52 murders committed by domestic extremists, 38% were committed by white superstars .
Graph extracted from the Southern Poverty Law Center where you can see the growth that has had the KKK from the year 2000 to 2016.
Several of the largest organizations in the Ku Klux Klan today are:
- Knights of the white camellia (Knights of the White Kamelia).
- Church of the American knights of the Ku Klux Klan (Church of the American Knights of the KKK, or"KKKK").
- Imperial clans of the United States, guided by Thomas Robb. (Imperial Klans of America).
- Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, also guided by Thomas Robb. (The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan).
By 2005 it was estimated that there were about three thousand members of the KKK, which are divided into 158 chapters that have been born through several independent organizations. Most of these are located in states that were once Confederates.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has provided legal and other support to various factions of the KKK, for the defense of their rights demonstrations, marches and parades granted by the First Amendment of the Constitution, likewise Their right to nominate candidates for public office.
Recently using the support it has received from the ACLU, Ku Klux Klan leaders called for a parade to celebrate Donald Trump's presidential victory in the state of North Carolina.
References
- (2005) Ku Klux Klan (Online) Retrieved from: encyclopedia.com.
- New York Post. (2016) THE KU KLUX KLAN IS SLOWLY RISING AGAIN (Online) Retrieved from nypost.com
- Slate Magazine. (2016) The Untold Story of the Eradication of the Original Ku Klux Klan (Online) Retrieved from: slate.com.
- New Georgia Encyclopedia. (2002) Ku Klux Klan in the Era Reconstruction. (Online) Retrieved from: georgiaenyclopedia.org.
- Oregonencyclopedia (1990) Ku Klux Klan. (Online) Retrieved from: oregonencyclopedia.org.