The Ku Klux Klan (Ku - Klux - Klan) has always been associated with something sinister and threatening, responding to the intentions of its creators. The topic of the history of the Ku Klux Klan in our country was not entirely grateful, and if they talked about this organization, it was only in a negative spirit, which, however, corresponded to reality …
However, let's think about it - what do we know about the Ku Klux Klan? As a rule, directories tell us that it was a secret racist terrorist organization aimed at fighting blacks. The only thing that many knew about the origin of such a name (the sound of the rifle bolt) and that turned out to be fiction. If the curious reader tried to find any additional information, he was disappointed. There is no doubt that the lack of information on any problem always arouses interest in it, especially since the true history of the Ku Klux Klan has not yet been written; much of his activity remains unknown.
I suggest you find out more about this …
The history of the United States of America, a fairly young state, contains a large number of dramatic and secret pages. One of the most critical moments in the country's history was the civil war that broke out between the free North and the slave owners of the South. It began in 1860, when relations between the two parties escalated to the limit. In the North, many influential parties emerged that supported radical democratic reforms, one of which was the abolition of slavery. The movement was headed by A. Lincoln, who was elected president. But the conservative forces of the South did not support him and declared war on the democrats. The bloody confrontation lasted 4 years and, having claimed more than half a million lives, ended with a formal surrender and the signing of peace in 1865. Thus, slavery was abolished,the black population received freedom and constitutional rights. However, the racial confrontation did not end there.
Creation of the Ku Klux Klan and its organizational structure
Before the appearance of the Ku Klux Klan, in the 40s. XIX century. In the South of the United States, there were many secret organizations that carried out terrorist acts against officers, soldiers of the federal troops and individuals who fought for the rights of the black population of America. During the Civil War (1861-1865), these organizations took part in the struggle against the northerners - "Blue Lodges", "Sons of the South", "Social Union". The Knights of the Golden Circle acquired the greatest fame - in November 1860 it consisted of 115.0 thousand people. Almost all of them disappeared - for one reason or another - during the war. After the defeat of the South in the Civil War, a new period began in the history of the United States - the Reconstruction of the South (1865-1877).
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Of course, a large number of people of different social status remained in the South who were dissatisfied with the liberation of blacks, yesterday's slaves. Therefore, the emergence of a new anti-black organization turned out to be natural.
On December 24, 1865 (on June 2, all Southerner troops ceased resistance) in the city of Pulaski (Tennessee), Judge Thomas L. Jones and 6 other persons (almost all - former officers of the Confederate army) created the Ku Klux Klan, as evidenced by the memorial board on the wall of the local courthouse.
They decided to create a secret society, which was supposed to protect the "lost justice", that is, the patriarchal order that existed in the South. It was also important to come up with a special name for the organization, which would emphasize the connection between society and the traditions of secret societies of the past. This is how the “Kuklos-clan” came about (the first word in translation from Greek means “circle” - a favorite symbol of the conspirators, and the second is the English word clan, that is, a tribal community).
However, the conspirators did not stop there and, wishing to give the name even more mystery, slightly modified the spelling of the words. This is how the Ku Klux Klan came about.
But the Knights of the Circle was very much like another society, the Knights of the Golden Circle. Then another "founder", Captain Kennedy, a Scotsman, suggested adding the word "clan" to the name, denoting a clan, a group of close relatives in his historical homeland (it was not for nothing that one Scottish movie hero said about himself: "I am Duncan Macleod, from the clan MacLeodov "). This is how the name of the new organization - the Ku Klux Klan - was invented, which has gone down in history for a long time. Therefore, A. Conan Doyle, in his story about Sherlock Holmes, "Five Orange Pips", was most likely wrong when he said that the name "Ku Klux Klan" "is based on the similarity with the peculiar sound of a cocked rifle bolt." Undoubtedly, the name of the organization was very strange and not typical for Americans. As one of the American historians of clanism said, D. L. Wilson,even “… in the very name of the Ku Klux Klan there was some kind of fatal force. Have the reader say this word out loud. It resembles the sound of the bones of a skeleton hitting each other."
Wishing to celebrate the creation of their terrorist organization, at night the "founding fathers" wrapped themselves in white sheets, mounted their horses and began to gallop through the city streets. They laughed heartily at the amazement that their procession had on the inhabitants, and experienced even greater pleasure in the fear of the Negroes they met along the way. At first, superstitious blacks took the clan members for the souls of the dead Confederates (i.e., southerners). The fear of the blacks disappeared only when the killed and wounded appeared among the clan members. After the first mass appearance, the people in the Ku Klux Klan began to wear white masks with openings for the eyes and nose, high hats, sewn so as to increase the height of a person, and a white robe (hoodie) that completely covered the figure. The equipment always included a whistle, which gave commands;a special code for conditioned signals was specially developed.
One of the first acts of intimidation of the clan members turned out to be rather "innocent". A black man was punished for caring for a white school teacher. The clansmen took him out of the city, persuaded him to stop dating white women, and threw him into the river.
The Ku Klux Klan quickly gained popularity, especially among former officers and soldiers of the Confederate army, committed racists, and former members of secret organizations such as the Knights of the Golden Circle. In 1865-1867, i.e. For almost two years of its existence, the number of clan members is steadily growing - the initial cells of the clan numbered more than a hundred. By 1868, all the southern terrorist organizations had united around the Ku Klux Klan. The clan's social base was very wide - from the poorest peasants (whose wages fell sharply due to the appearance on the labor market of cheap labor in the form of freed blacks) to the rich.
In April 1867, another important event took place in the history of the Ku Klux Klan - the first illegal "congress" of the organization took place in the city of Nashville. According to legend, the meeting was held in the 10th room of the Maxwell Hotel. The "congress" was attended by delegates from Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. The result of the "conference" was the adoption of the "charter" and "constitution" of the Ku Klux Klan. The document said that the clan arose to “stop the death of our unfortunate country and rid the white race of those unbearable conditions in which it has recently been placed. Our main task is to support the supremacy of the white race … America was created by whites and for whites, and any attempt to transfer power into the hands of the black race is both a violation of both the Constitution [meaning the US Constitution] and God's will … The rights of blacks must be recognized and protected,but whites must retain the privilege of determining the scope of these political rights. And until the blacks answer how they understand their political rights, the Clan vowed not to allow black political equality. " The "Congress" also worked out the structure of the organization. The Ku Klux Klan was declared an "Invisible Empire" ruled by a "great magician" with a council (with headquarters functions) of 10 "geniuses".
The power of the head of the "empire" was absolute, and the decisions he made were subject to immediate execution. The "empire" was divided into "kingdoms" covering the state, headed by the "great dragon" and his headquarters of 8 "hydras". The "kingdom" was subdivided into "domains" equal to the US congressional district. At the head of the "domain" was a "great titan" with assistants called "furies". "Domains" were divided into "provinces", headed by a "great giant" and 4 "brownies". The original cell of the Clan was a "cave" led by a "great cyclops" and 2 "night hawks". There were also other officials: the “great sorcerer” (who replaced the “cyclops” in his absence), the “great monk” who served as the head of the “cave” in the absence of the “cyclops” and “sorcerers”. The "Great Treasurer", as the name implies, was in charge of finances;The “great Turk” informed the “vampires” - ordinary members of the Clan - about upcoming meetings; The “great guard” was the gatekeeper of the “cave”; The "great standard-bearer" kept and protected the "great banner", that is, regalia. The financing of the "Invisible Empire" remains unknown. Some of the money the clansmen got by smuggling, did not disdain robbery, and seized weapons and ammunition. In any case, the Clan always had enough money.
The Ku Klux Klan is getting back on its feet
The first leader of the Ku Klux Klan, its "founders" intended to make the famous and talented commander-in-chief of the Confederate Army, R. Lee, who was defeated at the Battle of Gettysburg. However, the general chose not to interfere in the activities of the new terrorist organization, getting off with a witty phrase that “will remain the invisible head of the“Invisible Empire”. Therefore, the post of the first "great magician" was appointed by the former general of the Confederation, N. B. Forrest, who was very popular in the South and became famous for his cruelty during the Civil War towards the Negroes captured as part of the troops of the North (former officers and generals of the Confederate army were also appointed to other positions).
In 1871, at a meeting of a congressional commission investigating the activities of the Ku Klux Klan, Forrest would say: “I love the old order [ie the system that existed before the Civil War in the South], I love the old Constitution. I think the Confederate government was the best government in the world. " The Ku Klux Klan quickly gained popularity, and in 1868 the charter was revised. Now, in addition to the 11 states of the Confederation, the Clan's areas of activity included new ones - Maryland, Massachusetts, Kentucky. The Clan is most widespread in Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina and Louisiana.
Since the 70s. XIX century. The Ku Klux Klan makes itself known almost openly; The "caves" were shaped like political or sports clubs. According to Forrest, the Clan consisted of more than 550.0 thousand people, according to other sources - 2.0 million. The clan acted under different names so that the people in them could safely swear in court that they were not members of the clan. -klux-clan - "White Brotherhood", "Knights of the Black Cross", "Guardians of the Constitution", "Knights of the White Camellia", etc. The most characteristic features of the Clan were secrecy and secrecy. They were necessary for the conspiracy of "vampires", and as a kind of scarecrow for blacks and their "accomplices". The second circumstance was given primary importance.
March of the Ku Klux Klan in Washington DC, 1920s.
In many cases, it was enough for the victim to hint that her presence was undesirable, as the person immediately moved to another place (this is exactly what A. Conan-Doyle tells about in his story "Five Orange Pips"). The clansmen tried always and everywhere to emphasize the mystery of the organization, its connections with mysticism. The clan members especially preferred night processions - in complete silence, in white robes and caps, on horseback, they rode through the deserted streets. The spectacle, it should be noted, made a certain impression. The "invisible empire" was shrouded in a dense veil of secrecy. For even the slightest attempt to publicize the secrets of the Ku Klux Klan, only death was due. The clan members never met in a row several times in the same place. For meetings with each other, they developed emergency turnouts, which could only be penetrated by onewho knew numerous passwords and identification marks. For conspiracy purposes, at meetings with each other and for carrying out terrorist acts, the clan members wore white, black or striped robes and caps with edged red slots for the eyes, nose and mouth, sometimes crowned with several horns. The Ku Klux Klan - in action.
The main "occupation" of the Ku Klux Klan was terrorist acts. Due to the extraordinary ramifications of the organization, the "vampires" had comprehensive information on the basis of which they carried out murders, arson, and beatings. Operationally, the "Invisible Empire" had the following structure - the county (administrative-territorial unit of the United States) was divided into several districts, each of which was a "lag", that is, the lowest combat cell headed by the "captain". The clan members operated in mobile groups (depending on the circumstances) - from 10-12 people to 200-500 people, extremely quickly; no witnesses were left alive. The killings of blacks (especially those who served in the army) and those fighting for their rights (including whites) were committed with unprecedented cruelty - they shot, maimed, hung. As a rule, they preferred to throw the victim into the water with a stone around their neck. Florida Governor Flemming says that once, after one unfortunate black man was boiled alive in a cauldron, a clan surgeon collected his bones into a single skeleton, which the "vampires" hung at a crossroads for intimidation. Subsequently, only on the basis of official facts of the Congress Commission was it established that in the period from 1865 to 1870. The Ku Klux Klan has committed more than 15.0 thousand murders.
In 1880, a member of the House of Representatives G. Wilson testified that 130.0 thousand people were killed only for political activity in the southern states. Death awaited not only ordinary US citizens, but also politicians.
In 1868, the Republican candidate for governor of the state was assassinated in Georgia. In that year, two members of the Legislature were attacked in Alabama. One was shot, the other, who survived, stopped his activities.
In 1869, the clan members assassinated one senator and a member of the Legislative Assembly. Fearing an assassination attempt, one of the radicals in Florida Gibbs, set up a real arsenal at home, surrounding himself with guards. But this did not help either - Gibbs was poisoned. As a result, by the mid-70s. XIX century. the clan members staged a total terror, having achieved the unprecedented power of the "Invisible Empire" in almost all the states of the South. Therefore, the federal government was forced to actively intervene in the activities of the Ku Klux Klan, having achieved great success in this field. The death of the "great magician" Forrest in October 1877 (shortly before his death freed the "vampires" from all oaths) also significantly contributed to the prohibition of the "Invisible Empire", i.e. when the period of the Reconstruction of the South ended. However, if the Ku Klux Klan disappeared, then not for long. He soon reappeared. Ku Klux Klan:rebirth and the beginning of sunset.
The rebirth of the "Invisible Empire" took place during the First World War. Although the Ku Klux Klan no longer functioned for about 30 years, the memory of it in the South remained the most "favorable" among the ardent supporters of the anti-black and the movement. A little after the liquidation of the Ku Klux Klan, several books were published glorifying the activities of the "Invisible Empire", praising it as an "instrument of justice", a loyal defender of the rights and civilization of the southerners. Thus, in 1884, a book by one of the founders of the Clan, Captain J. Lister, was published in Nashville. The new "father" of the Ku Klux Klan was a certain Williams Simmons - a brilliant orator, a participant in the American-Spanish War of 1898 (he volunteered for the war). October 28, 1915 in the office of I. R. Clarkson, Simmons' attorney, chaired by the Speaker of the Georgia State Legislature D. W. Bail,in the presence of 36 people (of whom two were "vampires" under the "great magician" Forrest), a "constituent assembly" of the new Ku Klux Klan took place. The participants in the meeting signed a petition in which they asked the Georgian authorities for permission to establish the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan organization as a "patriotic, charitable social fraternal order."
On a Thanksgiving November night, 16 people climbed to the top of Stone Mountain, 10 miles from Atlanta (the capital of Georgia). They performed a ritual action - they built an altar from stones, on which they placed an American flag, a saber and a Bible. A wooden cross doused with kerosene was erected nearby and set on fire. The second birth of the Ku Klux Klan happened for several reasons. One of the main reasons for reincarnation was the persistence in the hearts of the new southerners of the memories of the Clan as a fighter against blacks, for whom they did not have much love in the South; and even more exacerbated during the First World War. Secondly, at the beginning of the twentieth century. began a mass migration of blacks from the South to the North, which caused extreme disapproval among the northerners. The impetus for the revival of "The Invisible Empire" was the unprecedented popularity of the feature film by the American director (southerner) D. W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation (1915). Griffith left a big mark on world cinema. Together with the celebrities of the cinema screen of the early twentieth century. - Ch. Chaplin, M. Pickford, D. Fairbanks - he created the United Artists film company, which still exists today. Griffith developed new techniques for camera work (close-up, blackout, dissipation, used a moving camera). On March 8, 1915, Griffith showed his painting for the first time to the general public, who received widespread approval, especially in the South. As one critic wrote, "People screamed, yelled, yelled and fired at the screen to save Flora Caperon [the film's heroine] from a black rapist." The resonance after watching the movie, which glorified the white man and formed the image of the black man as a brutal killer, bandit and robber, was unprecedentedly high. Radical organizations tried to ban the showing of The Birth of a Nation, but - an amazing thing! - US President W. Wilson (southerner) and US Supreme Court Chief Justice E. White (also southerner) liked the movie. This largely determined the success of Griffith's creation (for the sake of fairness, we note that in 1918 he created a new picture called "The Hearts of the World", in which he affirmed the unity of whites and blacks).
On December 4, 1915, the "Invisible Empire" received the right to legally exist and to use the old attributes, traditions, regalia of the Clan. As if in confirmation of the need for the organization to function, the next day, December 5, the first screening of the movie "The Birth of a Nation" was held in Atlanta; three weeks later, the film broke all attendance records. Having revived, the Clan partially adopted other forms of existence, completely unacceptable earlier. The leaders of the "Invisible Empire" in every possible way stressed that their movement is "one hundred percent Americanism", that they preach truly patriotic and religious feelings. The clan called for law and order, put forward slogans against prostitution, in defense of morality, which attracted many Americans, and especially women, to the "empire". One of the "great magicians" of this period, Evans, said:“We are the movement of the common people. We demand (and we hope to win) the return of power into the hands of an average citizen, a descendant of the pioneers …”. In addition to words, the Ku Klux Klan was also engaged in deeds - in 1921 he spent 1 million dollars on charity.
At the same time, one should not idealize the "Invisible Empire" - the victory of the Bolsheviks in 1917 led to an increase in anti-communist sentiments, economic instability in the country in 1919-1920. - countless bankruptcies. In all the troubles of Clan vinyl "red", foreigners, and of course, "niggers", fueling chauvinism, preaching nationalism. Therefore, due to the unfavorable internal situation in the United States, by the end of 1920, hundreds of thousands of people joined the Clan, sincerely believing that it was he who could correct the situation. In 1919-1920. Federal authorities became interested in the Clan's activities, incl. the notorious FBI; many "vampires" were brought to trial, incl. Simmons. However, the case did not go beyond hearings and formal proceedings - it took the court only six days (from 11 to 17 October 1921) to close the case. Subsequently, Simmons said:“Congress gave us the best publicity we have ever received. Congress made us. " And it wasn't just bravado. When Simmons arrived in Georgia from Washington, he was inundated with a flood of letters in which numerous fans asked for permission to create clanist "caves" in their area. The growth in the number of Clan members took place constantly. Sometimes about 100.0 thousand people joined the "empire" during the week! By 1924, the Clan numbered from 6 to 9 million people. Even in one of the prisons in Colorado, a clanist cell was organized - the "clavern" - which included both prisoners and some of the guards and part of the prison administration!in which numerous fans asked for permission to create clanist "caves" in their area. The growth in the number of Clan members took place constantly. Sometimes about 100.0 thousand people joined the "empire" during the week! By 1924, the Clan numbered from 6 to 9 million people. Even in one of the prisons in Colorado, a clanist cell was organized - the "clavern" - which included both prisoners and some of the guards and part of the prison administration!in which numerous fans asked for permission to create clanist "caves" in their area. The growth in the number of Clan members took place constantly. Sometimes about 100.0 thousand people joined the "empire" during the week! By 1924, the Clan numbered from 6 to 9 million people. Even in one of the prisons in Colorado, a clanist cell was organized - the "clavern" - which included both prisoners and some of the guards and part of the prison administration!so are some of the guards and part of the prison administration!so are some of the guards and part of the prison administration!
Ku Klux Klan Parade, Washington 1926.
In the 20s. The clan was wildly popular in the country. In June 1923, the "Women's Ku Klux Klan" was organized, in 1924 - the "Younger Ku Klux Klan" for boys and young men aged 12 to 18 years. The quantitative growth of "vampires" took place both in the city and in the countryside. From 1920 to 1925 income from membership fees alone amounted to $ 90.0 million, i.e. a year - 15 million! As before, the Ku Klux Klan was distinguished by its anti-black orientation. However, in contrast to the "classical" version of existence, when dozens of unfortunate blacks were killed, in the 20s there was no such thing. So, if in the 60-70s. XIX century. about 3.0 thousand people perished per year, in 1918 - 70 people, from 1919 to 1922. - 239 people
In 1938-1940. in the state of Georgia clan members carried out more than 50 terrorist attacks. As before, the "vampires" enjoyed the support of the "powers that be". The clan had enormous resources. The clan members spent hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars for bribery and for holding elections to the supreme legislative bodies. As before, their henchmen made their way into power - from the lowest bodies to Congress. In 1922, people sympathizing with the Clan's cause were appointed governors of Georgia, Alabama, California, and Oregon. In 1924, the number of "vampire" governors increased at the expense of Colorado, Maine, Ohio, Louisiana.
In the same, in 1924, the "great treasurer" of the "empire" allocated 500,000 dollars to support the senator from the state of Georgia. When the opponent of the future senator found out that his opponent was supported by the Clan, he immediately "threw out the white flag", i.e. preferred to give in. During the Second World War, the activities of the Clan began to decline due to excessive reactionaryism, and on April 28, 1944, due to non-payment of taxes in the amount of $ 685,305 8 cents, the "Invisible Empire" declared financial insolvency and self-dissolution in Atlanta. True, not for long. Third birth of the Ku Klux Klan: final sunset. The third birth of the Ku Klux Klan took place in 1946, in the same Atlanta. One of the last "great magicians" of the Clan was Samuel Green, a "vampire" since 1922, who became the "great dragon" of Georgia in the early 1930s. However, united,centralized "Invisible Empire" came a natural ending. Even under the chairmanship of Green, the Clan was more or less obedient in his hands, but thoroughly cracked at all the seams. In the 40s. all organizations of the Clan in the states of South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama consisted of 10.0 thousand people.
The Ku Klux Klan in Rumford, Maine, 1987.
In 1949 Green died and the "empire" collapsed. In the southern states, separate, independent clan organizations are formed. The most famous "kingdom" was the "Knights of the Ku Klux Klan of America", which emerged in 1949 in Alabama, claiming the role of the leader of the Ku Klux Klan of the United States. The split also took place within these small organizations. Thus, in the "kingdom" of Georgia, the local "clavers" in Columbus and Manchester split off, forming the "True Southern Clans of America", headed by 23-year-old World War II veteran Elton Pate, who proclaimed "a merciless struggle against the teachings of the Communist Party", defended American Protestantism; and opposed national minorities. The great discontent of all clanists was caused by the abolition of school segregation in 1954, i.e. in this case, the separate education of white and black children. Despite the quarrels and strife within the Clan, the "vampires" were, as in the old days, ardent haters of "non-Americans", incl. blacks. Thus, in the city of Mobile (Alabama) in January 1957, the Clan blew up three houses in one night, carried out armed raids on three black dwellings, burned down a Negro house and a school building.
In total, from 1955 to 1965. South racists killed 85 people, including 69 blacks and 8 white fighters for the rights of the "colored population" of the United States.
However, attempts to revive the clan were made in the 1960s, when the most radical members of the organization fought against sexual minorities, and at the same time destroyed other civil rights activists. But then the clan members again went too far with activity, and they were again banned.
A new surge in the organization's activity came in the 1970s, when some small racist groups, using terror, tried to fight against the black population, who defended their rights. But then the FBI turned out to be at its best, which in a short period of time arrested the most active clan members.
Currently, the Ku Klux Klan remains an active member of the "civil society". Participants in the movement claim that they no longer resort to violence, but are only engaged in protecting Christianity and their cities from criminals and immigrants. Most of the clan members are civilian militia. There are about 250 thousand of them. Approximately 100-150 thousand are members of illegal and semi-legal organizations. From time to time, these organizations are closed, and the leaders of the "white movement" are imprisoned for long periods.
To date, there are officially about 5 thousand people in various clan groupings. However, the real number of those who support the movement and actively participate in the life of the clan reaches more than one million people. The official number only says that various anti-fascist and other colored organizations and movements are suing the clan members. It's about millions of dollars. In order to reduce these payments, the official society intends to underestimate its number, in order to thus quite legally reduce to a minimum ship payments (citing the small size and poverty of the organization).
One of these lawsuits was the case of Jordan Groover. In 2006, four members of the "Imperial Ku Klux Klan" movement in the small town of Brandenburg, located in the state of Kentucky, allegedly carried out missionary activities (but for some reason at night). On the way, they met a sixteen-year-old Indian teenager. Not really thinking about the correctness of their actions, the "missionaries" beat him, then doused him with alcohol, tried to burn him alive. But the boy was lucky, a police car was passing by. As a result, Jordan's life was saved, and the clan members were imprisoned for three years. In their defense, they said during the court proceedings that the boy himself tried to attack them. And this is for healthy men, two of whom were under two meters in height and weighed over a hundred kilograms, while the boy's height did not even reach 160 centimeters, and his weight was 45 kilograms.
In addition to imprisonment, the organization itself was fined - the "imperial Ku Klux Klan" had to pay $ 1.5 million to Groover himself, and in addition, another 1 million to the state treasury.
In 2010, the leader of the "imperial clan" Pastor Ron Edwards and his wife were arrested. He was charged with possession and distribution of methamphetamine. The clan members assured that the drugs were planted by the FBI. But then the pastor managed to get off with just house arrest.
Another such case, but with a much more deplorable ending, occurred in 2011, when one of the most active members of the clan, Lawrence Brewer, was executed in Huntsville prison. In 1998, he, along with two of his accomplices, brutally massacred a black man, James Byrd. He was lured into a car, taken to a deserted place and tortured. Then they handcuffed him to the car and dragged the body until the man died.
Many people ask the question: how is it that such an organization, which is accepted by many exclusively as a relic of the era, is reborn again and again? And everything is very simple - from time to time it is required by the official authorities. And under the name "Ku Klux Klan" there is not one, but several conspiratorial organizations at once. The largest of these is the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, which operate in Arkansas. The organization is headed by Pastor Tom Robb. Clans have strong legal support from the American Civil Liberties Union. But at the same time, it has not yet been possible to achieve the former scope of the organization. However, the clan members are not discouraged, claiming that numbers are not the most important thing for them. It may well be that the Ku Klux Klan will have a long life, because the organization is needed by many …