I went to a Klan Rally

Just thinking about this today because I heard a podcast about confederate flags

http://one.npr.org/i/484761716:484761743

Back in 1986 when I was in college, I heard the Klan was going to march in Charlotte.  A bunch of friends and I went to protest.   The police were out in force and were protecting the Klan's right to march since they had filed for a permit.   The police went first, banging on their riot shields and looking intimidating. The Klan went next, looking a bit foolish in their hoods. 

Afterwards, everybody went back to their cars and drove away.  I was parked right next to a Klan pick up truck, we just did a nod and got in our respective cars.

Anyone else met the Klan?

Yep, sure did.

Back in 1968 when I was in college in Greensboro NC. A friend (nice Jewish girl from Long Island) and I (left-wing loonie in training) were having coffee at a local hangout near campus. At the time our school had just gone co-ed, and was still viewed as a 'women's college', so attracted a lot of guys from the immediate area and way beyond.

Anyway, this older guy simply came to our booth and asked to join us. Not sure if we said yes or no, but it was a public place, lots of people, and despite the fact that he was quite a bit older that the usual guys who were there hoping to hook up with a college girl, he looked harmless enough. So he sat and fairly quickly started talking - rambling on and on about some recent racial tensions in Greensboro, then more specifically to his personal views. Turns out, he was pretty high up in the local Klan - not the local equivalent of an Imperial Wizard, but almost that high up...or so he claimed.

We just excused ourselves pretty quickly and said we had to get to class. Never was sure why he chose our table that day :-).

We just excused ourselves pretty quickly and said we had to get to class.

I was worried where that was going.

"We hit it off and dated for a while...."

Yep, sure did.

Back in 1968 when I was in college in Greensboro NC. A friend (nice Jewish girl from Long Island) and I (left-wing loonie in training) were having coffee at a local hangout near campus. At the time our school had just gone co-ed, and was still viewed as a 'women's college', so attracted a lot of guys from the immediate area and way beyond.

Anyway, this older guy simply came to our booth and asked to join us. Not sure if we said yes or no, but it was a public place, lots of people, and despite the fact that he was quite a bit older that the usual guys who were there hoping to hook up with a college girl, he looked harmless enough. So he sat and fairly quickly started talking - rambling on and on about some recent racial tensions in Greensboro, then more specifically to his personal views. Turns out, he was pretty high up in the local Klan - not the local equivalent of an Imperial Wizard, but almost that high up...or so he claimed.

We just excused ourselves pretty quickly and said we had to get to class. Never was sure why he chose our table that day :-).

Seems like Greensboro is where everything having to do with the Klan happens. 

I was just listening to another great podcast called "Criminal " that examines criminal cases and they covered the Socialists / Communists that were killed by the Klan in Greensboro.  That wasn't when you were around was it?  I thought it was some years later.   What school was it?

It's a great podcast if anyone is interested, but they are based in NC.  Even though they have a global audience, they seem to save money by mostly covering NC crime.  Makes the rest of the world think that North Carolina is worse than it is.

I was worried where that was going.

"We hit it off and dated for a while...."

You laugh, but I had a brother in law that was just dumb enough. 

Did you know that French slang for redneck idiot is "Brother in Law"?

Makes the rest of the world think that North Carolina is worse than it is.

/I have no room to talk, though...

I never met anyone who ever said they were in the KKK, but my hometown in Colorado is where one of the upper leaders of the KKK lived. The local college, now a university, still has dorms named after a prominent local KKK member. And a nearby town had a sign just before it's highway exit telling blacks not to stop there while the KKK was in power. I tried to find an image of it online, but it may have been taken down...

Some people at the school really wanted them to rename the residence hall while I went there, but nothing came of it.

The KKK controlling the town was a huge news story awhile back, either 2009 or 2012 because so many people weren't aware of the history.

I met a man in college, who was African American and actually somehow befriended the leader of the klan. The leader ended up leaving. It was a profound story. He's a story about it.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3499658/Black-blues-musician-Daryl-Davis-convinces-Klansmen-leave-KKK-friendship-hard-time-getting-Black-Lives-Matter-campaigners-Kwame-Rose-Tariq-Tour.html

There a big kkk community in southern Missouri, and they put out fliers during all the Ferguson race rioting over the killing of Mike Brown.



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I went to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNC-G) which was formerly Woman's College of the University of North Carolina before it went co-ed. I attended from 1966-68, was out for 3 years, and back from 71-73 (graduated with a BA finally). Went back again in the 80's for an MBA.

The big Klan march in GSO was in 1979 (I think), with a pretty violent clash between the Klan and 'Socialists'. I was living in Indiana then.

Greensboro has a varied history - it was the location of the sit-ins at the lunch counter at Woolworth's in downtown, which was a monumental event, and one I remember. Klan activity was always visible, but not an everyday occurrence, and for the most part not as violent as in some places in the deep south. The big Klan march was of course the notable exception.
 

/I have no room to talk, though...

Dang, Son of Sailor pushes the nuclear button- a picture of Jessie Helms! 

I met a man in college, who was African American and actually somehow befriended the leader of the klan. The leader ended up leaving. It was a profound story. He's a story about it.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3499658/Black-blues-musician-Daryl-Davis-convinces-Klansmen-leave-KKK-friendship-hard-time-getting-Black-Lives-Matter-campaigners-Kwame-Rose-Tariq-Tour.html

There a big kkk community in southern Missouri, and they put out fliers during all the Ferguson race rioting over the killing of Mike Brown.



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That's an interesting story.  I was struck by the fact that several years ago, people with completely different views could have a conversation and possibly learn something from each other.

I got the idea that the black lives matter conflict happened in the modern era where people just shout arguments at each other.  I think that's sad.

Anyone else met the Klan?

Not sure, but I sure did meet a lot of racist idiots (and a lot of good people) while living in Alabama for 10 years. Some of them talked a big game - and claimed to have connections. Some of them took it upon themselves to educate me on 'how things worked' down there and how to conduct myself (me being from PA), such as chastising me for hugging a black former co-worker on my front lawn. This was in ***2003***.   

After all these years, I still can't believe Jesse Helms was elected once, never mind multiple times. I voted for the first time in 1972, and proud to say, I voted for the loser...Nick Galifianakis.

Helms did more to keep NC in the dark ages than anyone in living memory (IMHO). The current governor, along with most of the General Assembly, is working hard to reverse whatever progress was made since Helms left office in 2003.