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.
