1/ History lesson time! America has defeated organized white nationalism before.
Did you know that declaring the Ku Klux Klan a domestic terror group paved the way to disbanding them?
Let me tell you the political tale. It will sound very familiar.
Did you know that declaring the Ku Klux Klan a domestic terror group paved the way to disbanding them?
Let me tell you the political tale. It will sound very familiar.
2/ Background on what the Klan was like in 1868. It was a chaotic collection of antiblack vigilantes.
Disgruntled poor white farmers, illegal whiskey distillers, so called “moral reformers,” convicted rapists, and most notably white workers scared of black competition. All KKK.
Disgruntled poor white farmers, illegal whiskey distillers, so called “moral reformers,” convicted rapists, and most notably white workers scared of black competition. All KKK.
3/ This will sound very familiar, but these vigilante groups would show up anonymously and harass black people until they left.
I grew up in Mississippi. And at one school, the KKK showed up to harass a black school teacher from Illinois.
Imagine 50 men showing up in robes.
I grew up in Mississippi. And at one school, the KKK showed up to harass a black school teacher from Illinois.
Imagine 50 men showing up in robes.
4/ With guns in hand, while being very polite, the masked men complained about education taxes. She ended up fleeing the country.
And, of course, there was Klan voter suppression. The KKK organized, commiting violence until black people decided it was safer not to vote.
And, of course, there was Klan voter suppression. The KKK organized, commiting violence until black people decided it was safer not to vote.
5/ So how did we stop the Klan?
Well, it started by politicians finding their spine and eventually declaring it a domestic terrorist group.
And the second part was organized prosecution of Kln leaders. Historically, it’s known as “The Resistance.”
Well, it started by politicians finding their spine and eventually declaring it a domestic terrorist group.
And the second part was organized prosecution of Kln leaders. Historically, it’s known as “The Resistance.”
6/ In 1870, federal prosecutors issued HUNDREDS of incitements of Klan members.
Particularly in South Carolina in 1872, Attorney General Amos Ackerman’s prosecutions produced a dramatic decline in Klan violence.
The federal government is why the Klan was defeated.
Particularly in South Carolina in 1872, Attorney General Amos Ackerman’s prosecutions produced a dramatic decline in Klan violence.
The federal government is why the Klan was defeated.
7/ The other part of why the KKK died were organized anti-fascist groups throughout the South.
When Klan members were unmasked, neighbors would knock on the Klan members doors and make it clear their group was not welcome.
White neighbors taking a stand stopped the KKK.
When Klan members were unmasked, neighbors would knock on the Klan members doors and make it clear their group was not welcome.
White neighbors taking a stand stopped the KKK.
8/ All of this will sound dreadfully familiar to Americans.
But I find this empowering. We have defeated organized hate before, and we can defeat it again.
But it will take actions by the federal government, and it will also take white people standing up to domestic terrorists.
But I find this empowering. We have defeated organized hate before, and we can defeat it again.
But it will take actions by the federal government, and it will also take white people standing up to domestic terrorists.
9/ Now, it’s worth adding this was just the first iteration of the KKK. It came back. We are in the third version today.
Know who brought it back? Rich white politicians. In fact, rich white Southerners helped establish the first KKK. They wielded the mob for personal gain.
Know who brought it back? Rich white politicians. In fact, rich white Southerners helped establish the first KKK. They wielded the mob for personal gain.
10/ It’s also critical to note, in the South - it wasn’t white politicians that protected black Americans.
It was black Americans running for office, establishing a community and protecting it fiercely. It’s not enough to have “woke” white people. We must empower black leaders.
It was black Americans running for office, establishing a community and protecting it fiercely. It’s not enough to have “woke” white people. We must empower black leaders.
11/ Final thought:
You might notice what’s missing. Debating the Klan, giving Klan media interviews, and being civil to the Klan were not historical forces that defeated it.
We didn’t shrug and say “First amendment!” We prosecuted them and intimidated them till they disbanded.
You might notice what’s missing. Debating the Klan, giving Klan media interviews, and being civil to the Klan were not historical forces that defeated it.
We didn’t shrug and say “First amendment!” We prosecuted them and intimidated them till they disbanded.
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