The Modern KKK
Although the modern Ku Klux Klan, or KKK, is not the same group that
terrorized African - Americans in the late 1800s and early 1900s, they still
have the same basic goals and ideas. There are many local and regional KKK
groups such as the Oregon Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and the New Order Knights
of the Ku Klux Klan. The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan is the national and largest
organization, but the only one seeking a political agenda. They are the group
that claims they are keeping alive the spirit and ideas of the original
Klansmen.
The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, or the KKKK, was formed in
Louisiana in 1956. They have had many national directors, or Grand Wizards that
led the group. The first Grand Wizard of the KKKK was former Louisiana State
representative David Duke. Another notable Grand Dragon was Tom Metzger, who now
heads a White supremacy group called the White Aryan Resistance. Today, the
Grand Dragon of the KKKK is Pastor Thomas Robb.
The KKKK claims that they
are not racist, but rather they are "racialist." This means that they do not
necessarily hate any one particular race based on skin color, but they love the
White race and have "White pride." Most of their ideas are centered on this
concept. Therefore, the first and foremost thing that the KKKK stands for is the
White Race. They say that the White Race is the "irreplaceable hub of our
Nation, our Christian faith, and the high levels of Western culture and
technology" ("Intro to the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan"). The KKKK believes that
the only way to achieve their goals is to have a United States with all White
people living in it, and there should be absolutely no
integration.
Another thing that the KKKK stands for is "America first."
This means that they think the interests of the United States should be put
before those of any other nation. It is basically a policy of protectionism
because the KKKK also does not want any foreign influence or interests in the
United States. Another aspect of the "America first" policy is that there should
be a foreign policy of military non-intervention ("Intro to the Knights of the
Ku Klux Klan"). The KKKK does not want to get involved with anything
"non-American."
The KKKK's stand on foreign aid and trade relates to
their "America first" policy. They believe that all foreign aid should be
stopped immediately because while the United States' tax dollars are being given
to other countries, Americans themselves are still needy ("The program"). The
KKKK believes that the money being spent on foreign aid should be kept within
the United States and should be put into things like Social Security and
Medicare. As for trade, the KKKK believes that NAFTA and GATT should be done
away with because they take jobs away from American workers and will put
"millions upon millions" into poverty ("The program").
Christianity is an
important part of the KKKK’s ideas and beliefs. In fact, one of the things that
the KKKK claims is that the United States was formed as not only a White Nation,
but as a Christian nation. They quote James Madison saying this about the
founding of the United States on their web page ("The program"):
We have
staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capacity
of
mankind for self-government upon the capacity of each and all of us to
govern
ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to
the
Ten Commandments of God.
Therefore, the KKKK’s views on
abortion and homosexuality reflect those of the Bible. They are against abortion
and believe it should be illegal unless the mother’s life is endangered or the
woman was raped or a victim of incest. And since the United States is a
"Christian nation" and the Bible is against homosexuality, there should be a
national law against it. They also believe church and state should no longer be
separated, making prayer in public schools legal. Because the KKKK is so heavily
involved in Christianity, they often light a large wooden cross on fire at their
rallies. They say that they are not desecrating the cross but rather they are
illuminating it and the "truth and the light" of Christianity ("Intro to the
Knights of the Ku Klux Klan").
The KKKK also believes that the White Race
is being discriminated against. Their organization is based on the premise of
"equal rights for all, special privileges for none" ("Introduction to the
Knights"). Because of this premise, the KKKK is against all Affirmative Action
programs. They claim that by giving the non-White minorities jobs and accepting
them into college, Whites are being discriminated against. The KKKK considers
this to be "reverse racism."
Among their other beliefs, the KKKK believes
that the United States should cut off trade with countries that do not have
strict environmental laws (one of their only liberal beliefs); military troops
should be put on the borders of the United States to keep illegal aliens from
entering the country; all of the anti-gun laws in the United States should be
done away with so every American can protect himself or herself; the budget of
the United States should be balanced; there should be a flat tax to contribute
to the funding of community, state, and federal projects; and all those who can
physically work should work ("The Program").
The KKKK has many ways that
they spread these ideas and beliefs to the public. One of the easiest ways is to
make themselves seen through public rallies and protests. Recently, the KKKK and
other groups associated with the KKK have protested the Martin Luther King, Jr.
holiday. They are against this holiday because they claim that Martin Luther
King, Jr. was a communist and anti-Christian. Another reason the KKKK is against
the holiday is because Martin Luther King, Jr. urged integration. The KKKK also
stages rallies and protests outside of public courthouses. Since courthouses are
well-known visible places, the KKKK knows that they will get media coverage and
they can get their message out.
This leads to another way that the KKKK
thinks that they can get their message of White rights and White power out to
the general public. Using the media to inform the public of your ideas is one of
the easiest and most effective methods. The KKKK uses all forms of media to get
their message out, including television, radio, and print advertising ("What is
our goal"). However, the most common form of media that the KKKK uses is
television. Members of the KKKK make their own videos talking about the White
Rights movement, and what the KKKK stands for, etc. They then distribute these
videos or play them on a public access television channel.
The KKKK also
prints and distributes its own literature. They print pamphlets among other
things not only because they want the public to know about their beliefs and
ideas, but they also want to let the public know who they are. The KKKK believes
that the public thinks that its members are "stupid, ignorant, backward, and
hicks" ("Activity report"). Even David Duke has written a book on his beliefs
and experiences with the KKKK, called My Awakening ("David Duke's Official
International Web Site").
Public relations are another way in which the
KKKK gets its message out and tries to improve their image. They do not hire a
public relations company but rather they train their own Klansmen and Klanswomen
to do the job. They go on television programs and radio shows to answer
questions from reporters or from the public. Grand Wizard Thomas Robb frequently
appears on radio, televised debates, and in documentaries. Another way that the
KKKK uses public relations is that they give interviews to high school or
college students working on reports.
The KKKK wants to break into United
States politics and the way they hope to accomplish this is through "sleepers."
A sleeper is a person who keeps his or her association with the KKK or the KKKK
private. They then become involved with either the democratic or republican
party. The KKKK does not immediately expect to gain any seats in the United
States congress, so they start out small by winning seats as precinct captains
or on state electoral committees ("Activity report"). This then paves the way
for members of the KKK or KKKK to run for seats such as those in a state
legislature.
An example of this is former Grand Wizard and Louisiana
State legislator David Duke. He was elected to the Louisiana House of
Representatives in 1989. While a State representative, Duke was the Health and
Welfare and Judiciary committees. He then ran from governor of Louisiana and
received over 700,000 votes ("Introduction to the Knights"). Duke allowed media
access to Klan rallies and appeared on many talk shows. Today, Duke is still
involved with politics in Louisiana, as he is the chairman of the Republican
Parish Executive Committee of the largest Republican county ("David Duke's
Official International Web Site").
One of the methods that the KKKK
considers the most important in getting its message out is by "re-educating the
educators" ("Activity report"). They consider teachers one of the most effective
tools in educating young White people about the White Rights movement. The KKKK
designs workbooks for teachers to give them an "accurate perception" about the
Christian foundation of education in the United States. These workbooks include
information on the struggles White youth face today, how there is a war going on
for the minds of White youth in the United States , and how the White youth are
made to feel guilty about everything wrong in the world today. They want the
teachers to teach their White students that it is okay to be White and
proud.
Another important and easy way that the KKKK gets their message
out is through the Internet. It is very to obtain information on the Internet on
any subject, and the KKKK is no exception. On web pages, the KKKK and other
groups associated with the KKK can post their ideas and beliefs and anyone with
a computer and modem can access it. The KKKK also has membership forms that
their supporters can submit. KKKK merchandise such as T-shirts and hats are
available on certain web pages as well.
Because of advanced technology
and the importance of politics in today's world, the KKKK and groups associated
with the KKK can spread their message without using violence. The KKKK's
ultimate goal is to obtain political power so they can implement all of their
ideas and beliefs into laws among other things. The number of KKK-affiliated
groups in the United States has grown and is no longer concentrated in the
South. This makes the KKKK and other groups a real threat to society today.