Domestic TerrorismDomestic Terrorism

By: Monica DeHart, Aida L. Wilhelm By: Monica DeHart, Aida L. Wilhelm & DaVette Henderson& DaVette Henderson

Ku Klux Klan

Ku Klux Klan FactsKu Klux Klan Facts DefinitionDefinition:: ““1. A secret society organized in the 1. A secret society organized in the

South after the Civil War to reassert South after the Civil War to reassert White supremacy by means of White supremacy by means of terrorism” (terrorism” (www.answers.comwww.answers.com, 2007, , 2007, p.1).p.1).

ClassificationClassification: : Fringe RightFringe Right StrengthStrength: : less than 500 membersless than 500 members

Ku Klux Klan FactsKu Klux Klan Facts

Source of IncomeSource of Income: Membership dues : Membership dues and sales of KKK paraphernalia. and sales of KKK paraphernalia.

Also known as:Also known as: American Knights of American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Imperial Klans of the Ku Klux Klan, Imperial Klans of America, and Knights of the White America, and Knights of the White Kamelia.Kamelia.

Last offenseLast offense: : unknownunknown

Ku Klux KlanKu Klux KlanTwo GenerationsTwo Generations

Background InformationBackground Information

Post Civil WarPost Civil War:: 6 middle-class Veterans of the 6 middle-class Veterans of the

Confederate Army founded the Ku Confederate Army founded the Ku Klux Klan.Klux Klan.

December 24, 1865December 24, 1865: Ku Klux Klan : Ku Klux Klan established.established.

Modern day Fraternal Modern day Fraternal Organization:Organization: expressing their expressing their beliefs of a supreme race White beliefs of a supreme race White Power.Power.

The First Era of Ku Klux KlanThe First Era of Ku Klux Klan

President Ulysses Grant President Ulysses Grant demolished the Ku Klux Klan in the demolished the Ku Klux Klan in the 1870’s under the Civil Rights Act.1870’s under the Civil Rights Act.

1871 Ku Klux Klan Act 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act ((www.wikipedia.comwww.wikipedia.com, 2007)., 2007).

Began by humor and eventually Began by humor and eventually turned into hatred and terrorism turned into hatred and terrorism towards non-white’s.towards non-white’s.

Key Target was African Americans Key Target was African Americans also known as- NEGRO’S!!! also known as- NEGRO’S!!! ((www.wikipedia.comwww.wikipedia.com, 2007)., 2007).

Nathan Bedford ForrestNathan Bedford Forrest Nominated as the “Grand Nominated as the “Grand

Wizard” which was the Wizard” which was the Klan’s national leader Klan’s national leader ((www.wikipedia.comwww.wikipedia.com, , 2007, p.3).2007, p.3).

1867 Meeting to compose 1867 Meeting to compose a formal membership of a formal membership of the KKK.the KKK.

Forrest is quoted by Forrest is quoted by George Gordon as stating George Gordon as stating “…that’s a damn good “…that’s a damn good thing. We can keep them thing. We can keep them niggers in their place” (niggers in their place” (www.answers.comwww.answers.com, 2007, , 2007, p. 10).p. 10).

Activities of the First EraActivities of the First Era

““The Klan sought to control the The Klan sought to control the political and social status of the freed political and social status of the freed slaves” (slaves” (www.wikipedia.comwww.wikipedia.com, 2007, , 2007, p.3).p.3).

““Specifically, it attempted to curb Specifically, it attempted to curb black education, economic black education, economic advancement, voting rights, and the advancement, voting rights, and the right to bear arms” right to bear arms” ((www.wikipedia.comwww.wikipedia.com, 2007, p. 3)., 2007, p. 3).

Activities of first era cont…Activities of first era cont…

KKK TargetsKKK Targets:: School teacher’s, Operatives of the School teacher’s, Operatives of the

federal Freedman’s Bureau and Black federal Freedman’s Bureau and Black member’s of the Local Leagues.member’s of the Local Leagues.

The Klan killed over 150 African The Klan killed over 150 African Americans in one county in Florida Americans in one county in Florida ((www.wikipedia.comwww.wikipedia.com, 2007, p.3)., 2007, p.3).

The Second Era of Ku Klux KlanThe Second Era of Ku Klux Klan

In 1915, William J. Simmons (Grand In 1915, William J. Simmons (Grand Wizard) re-established the second era.Wizard) re-established the second era.

Simmon’s was inspired by the movie Simmon’s was inspired by the movie “Birth of a Nation” by D.W. Griffith “Birth of a Nation” by D.W. Griffith ((www.adl.orgwww.adl.org, 2007, p.3)., 2007, p.3).

PoliticsPolitics:: More organized and focused on political More organized and focused on political

and social reform.and social reform. MembershipMembership:: 4 million 4 million Mostly in Midwestern statesMostly in Midwestern states

William J. SimmonsWilliam J. Simmons Elected in 1915 at meeting Elected in 1915 at meeting

on Stone Mountain.on Stone Mountain. Sought to form a fraternal Sought to form a fraternal

organization.organization. Based on comprehensive Based on comprehensive

Americanism.Americanism. Recruited post WWI and Recruited post WWI and

patronized conflicts occurring patronized conflicts occurring in U.S.in U.S.

““Now let the Niggers, Now let the Niggers, Catholics, Jews and others Catholics, Jews and others who disdain my wizardry, who disdain my wizardry, come out.” come out.” ((www.wikipedia.comwww.wikipedia.com, 2007, , 2007, p.7).p.7).

Second Era of the Ku Klux KlanSecond Era of the Ku Klux Klan

Advocated: anti-jewish, anti-catholic, Advocated: anti-jewish, anti-catholic, anti-communists and anti-immigant anti-communists and anti-immigant ((www.wikipedia.comwww.wikipedia.com, 2007, p. 8)., 2007, p. 8).

Republican & Semi-Democratic.Republican & Semi-Democratic.

““Violence” of the Ku Klux KlanViolence” of the Ku Klux Klan

LynchingLynching

WhippingsWhippings

MurdersMurders

Tar and featheringTar and feathering

BombingsBombingsShootingsShootingsFloggingsFloggingsBeating and Beating and

sexual assaultssexual assaults

Hate Crimes of the KKKHate Crimes of the KKK LynchingLynching 1915 the Lynching 1915 the Lynching

of Leo Frank of Leo Frank March 20, 1981 March 20, 1981

lynching of Michael lynching of Michael DonaldDonald

Hate Crimes of the KKKHate Crimes of the KKK BombingsBombings Alabama Church:Alabama Church: September 15, September 15,

19631963 4 girls killed and 4 girls killed and

22 adults injured22 adults injured Recent findingsRecent findings May 17, 2000: May 17, 2000:

clarifications on clarifications on Church bombingChurch bombing

FBI aware of FBI aware of bombingsbombings

Hate Crimes of the Ku Klux KlanHate Crimes of the Ku Klux Klan In 1977 Joseph Paul In 1977 Joseph Paul

Franklin (Former KKK Franklin (Former KKK member & serial killer member & serial killer ) was indicted for ) was indicted for bombing a synagogue bombing a synagogue in Chattanooga, in Chattanooga, Tenneessee.Tenneessee.

He called it a He called it a “synagogue of Satin” “synagogue of Satin” ((www.query.nytimes.cwww.query.nytimes.comom, 2007, p.1), 2007, p.1)

Hate Crimes of the KKKHate Crimes of the KKK

In 1951 the Ku In 1951 the Ku Klux Klan Klux Klan bombed Harry T. bombed Harry T. Moore’s home. Moore’s home. (school teacher & (school teacher & State Director of State Director of NAACP)NAACP)

40 years later the 40 years later the FBI & KKK FBI & KKK conspired with conspired with local authorities local authorities to carry out the to carry out the bombingbombing

Current ChapterCurrent Chapter Female Bands:Female Bands: Blue-Eyed DevilsBlue-Eyed Devils Angry Aryans Angry Aryans Prussian Blue Prussian Blue Believe in White Supremacy Believe in White Supremacy Source of Education:Source of Education: 1950’s racist textbooks 1950’s racist textbooks Lyrics:Lyrics: "Strike force! White survival. Strike force! Yeah." "Strike force! White survival. Strike force! Yeah."

((F:\Bakersfield girl band Cute Klux Klan.htmF:\Bakersfield girl band Cute Klux Klan.htm, , 2007, p.1)2007, p.1)

"We are proud of being white. We want our "We are proud of being white. We want our people to stay white we don't want to just be, you people to stay white we don't want to just be, you know, a big muddle. We just want to preserve our know, a big muddle. We just want to preserve our race." (race." (F:\Bakersfield girl band Cute Klux F:\Bakersfield girl band Cute Klux Klan.htmKlan.htm, 2007, p.1), 2007, p.1)

ReferencesReferences

www.adl.orgwww.adl.org www.answers.comwww.answers.com F:\F:\

BakersfieldgirlbandcutekluxklaBakersfieldgirlbandcutekluxklan.htmn.htm

www.query.nytimes.comwww.query.nytimes.com www.wikipedia.comwww.wikipedia.com