Local KKK chapter holds rally
By Barbara Leader • bleader@thenewsstar.com • September 26, 2010
Members of the Ku Klux Klan Dixie Rangers Chapter stood Saturday on the corner of two roads in rural western Ouachita Parish, working hard to recruit members. It was the chapter's first recruitment rally since its inception three years ago.
The corner was decorated with signs urging passers-by to "Apply today to join the KKK," red flags sporting the emblem of the confederacy, the Blood Drop Symbol of the KKK and one with the words "White Power, Ku Klux Klan."
A sign propped on the corner of the white frame house said, "One drop of colored blood will destroy your family blood line for eternity. Mongrelization is an abomination of the kingdom of heaven."
Klan members dressed all in black and sporting pistols on their right hips greeted cars passing by with waves and salutes. Passengers and drivers took photos, honked horns and waved back. "I'll be back," one yelled from the passenger seat.
Members say their weapons violated no laws and were for defensive purposes only.
"What if some gang-bangers drove by and started shooting?" Imperial Knight Hawk Joey Lee said. "We'd want to be able to defend ourselves."
Lee said the KKK is not the same organization as it was "100 years ago."
"We're nonviolent and more like a family unit." he said. "Everything changes with time, we're no different."
Members say today's KKK is more about preserving the integrity of the Caucasian race.
"We believe in Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible," a Grand Dragon who identified himself only as Lee said. "We do not believe in race mixing, homosexuality and welfare." A sign beside the front porch of the house listed Bible verses members say back their position, "Deuteronomy 7:3, Exodous 33:16, Joshua 23:12-13 and Psalms 144:11-12."
"Anyone can be proud of who they are," Joey Lee said. "But if you are white and you do it, you're automatically a racist."
Recruiters would not say how many people are members of the Dixie Rangers Ku Klux Klan Clavern 88, which they identify as the only KKK chapter in Ouachita Parish. But they indicated that members of the KKK are more prevalent than people know. "Some people don't even know it exists anymore," Joey Lee said.
KKK members dispersed business cards, applications, hat pins and newsletters to passers-by. By the end of the day, most of the materials were depleted. "We got about 15- 16 applications today!" a member said.
During the 2007 push in Jena, Louisiana; an attack on a church occurred. The persons responsible for that attack were arrested. One man was from Columbia, La. & the other was from W.Monroe. The local authorities processed the incident. The incident was never elevated to the federal level. However, it was evident that the occurrence was to intimidate the persons seeking to address the criminal justice systems inequities. It is now conclusive that the lack of trust of the criminal justice system is because of the non-affordance of due process in the courts and on the streets. Due process begins with the interaction of law-enforcement. In Ouachita parish alone, an individual was partially stripped search in front of a convenience store, so that images could be taken of tatoos for the purpose on gang affiliation identification.
Klan in Jena MLK Day 2008
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