Thread by @SurfCityWriter

Regarding the "America First" rally trying to hold an event in OC, now on their 3rd or 4th venue.

There are some who don't see the connection with the use of "America First" and the klan. It is a fully calculated use of a slogan used by the klan circa 1920s-1930s.

The klan attempted to infiltrate Orange County circa 1920s, getting members elected to Anaheim city council, holding rallies, infiltrating religious organizations (cloak of morality), running for office in Huntington Beach, & in OC sheriff department.

These were not Democrats.

At the time the klan was active in Orange County in the 1920s, voter demographics were majority GOP (1920 - 71.5% Republican, 1928 - 79.35% Republican).

It is true first iteration of klan in the South were Dems. But, not by the 1920s second rising, and, not in Orange County.

There was recognition at the time that the klan was organizing in Orange County, but no real push back at first (a tendency to view it as fringe group of no consequence).
~Santa Ana Register, December 22, 1921

Former klan kleagle Henry P. Fry wrote in his book, The Modern Ku Klux Klan (1922), that the environment of political polarization made the country ripe for klan propaganda. Sound familiar?

Here's a klan advertisement from the Santa Ana Register, 1922.

Note the scare tactic that "others" are fomenting lawlessness, changing America, and that they are the true patriots. Compare with the rhetoric today.

(second half of ad in next tweet)

Part 2 of klan advertisement from the Santa Ana Register, 1922.

Note they are concerned about the "hairy claw" of isms in public school systems, which are a target today w/ attempts to prevent ethnic studies or the false alarm about CRT.

(3rd, final section of ad in next tweet)

Part 3 (final) klan advertisement from Santa Ana Register, 1922.

And, the klan tells followers to gird for battle, that communism is coming, & other Americans are the enemy.

So when MTG calls Orange Countians "communist" and unpatriotic, keep this in mind. An old playbook.

Someone commented that the klan was not the first to use the slogan. Correct.

It appears Woodrow Wilson was the first in a speech arguing for neutrality in World War I, 1915.

The klan morphed it into something else. Not uncommon for an original concept to be co-opted.

Recommended book:
amazon.com/Behold-America…

And, for the curious. Former klan keagle Henry P. Fry's book, The Modern Ku Klux Klan (1922), can be found in online sources.

He notes that a big effort of the 1920s klan was the $10 membership. Money. Hate groups & their leaders are always chasing other people's money.