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Decades after the era when the Ku Klux Klan lynched African-Americans, the hate group is still fighting for white power.
There are active chapters in 41 US states, with between 5,000 and 8,000 active members, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Members are split among local organisations like the Fraternal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in Tennessee and a few national organisations, like the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.
Photojournalist Anthony S. Karen has spent the last eight years documenting Klan organisations in 14 states across the country.
Karen says that when he works, he strives to be a nonjudgmental observer who accepts each person as an individual. This attitude helped him get incredible access to notoriously wary subjects.
Karen started his project by contacting a number of local KKK groups via contact information on their websites. Most said no, but one eventually agreed to let him photograph a cross-lighting ceremony if he left his camera in the car until the ceremony began.
Cross-lightings are most often associated with attempts by the Klan to intimidate or threaten minority members of its community, though Klan members claim it is meant to symbolise the members’ faith in Christ.
Some current Klan organisations attempt to distance themselves from cross-lightings meant to intimidate people, which they call “cross-burnings.”
After the first event, Karen met with the leader of one of the largest Klan organisations, who extended an open invitation for Karen to attend any events that he hosted. The acceptance from the Klan leader led other organisations to take him seriously and invite him to other gatherings.
This photo is a Klan gathering in North Carolina.
The Klan also invited him to a lot of casual gatherings, including meetings known as Klonvocations, “unity” barbecues, and even a traditional Klan wedding, held at a Civil War battleground site.
Here, an Imperial Wizard and his wife grocery shop before a spring “unity” barbecue.
Klan members were mostly guarded when Karen first met them, so he left his camera at his side for most of the first rally he attended and later only photographed people with their permission.
“Once your subject feels that you respect them as a person, they tend to forget about the camera altogether and the intimacy will occur naturally,” Karen said.
Karen says that the overall impression he got was that today’s Klan members often join because they want to be part of an exclusively white organisation that opposes homosexuality, interracial relationships and illegal immigration.
The largest Klan organisation is called Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, which is also known as the Knight’s Party and it’s based in Harrison, Ark.
Here’s the national director of the Knight’s Party, Thomas Robb (centre), along with some of his family members.
Each year, the Knight’s Party holds an annual congress, called the Faith and Freedom Conference. It is usually held outside of Harrison on a Klan member’s property.
Most attendees come with their whole families, and some camp outside the conference compound for the weekend. Here are Klan members on a break from that conference.
Karen says that, for the most part, members try to avoid confrontation, though it happens most often during public events.
One confrontation that Karen witnessed followed a rally hosted by the Mississippi White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan at the Lee County Courthouse in Tupelo.
The protest was against illegal immigration and local sex offenders. Klan members were also protesting for schools to reinstate mandatory prayers.
It was the first major Klan appearance in Tupelo since the 1970s.
More photos can be found in an eBook on iTunes called “White Pride.”
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What a bunch of idiots. Grand wizards and white supremacy? Nutjobs.
Popes and immaculate conception?
Non religious, James.
Where would I get one of those hoodies??
Pennies
KKK Maxx
TKKK Maxx, why didn’t I think of that?
Or Brown Thomas!!
KKK-Mart, House of KKK? Ok I’ll stop now.
It must really pee these nut jobs off that the US elected a black President.
Great for trick or treating Gizmo…very effective…especially in parts of West Dublin. I recommend…
Where would I get one of those hoodies??
ask the Jesuits
You like the KKK
Kim, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian. The only KKK that embraces black members.
So funny :)
Why is it that “White supremacists” usually make the worst possible example that whites are supreme!
HOT SHOWER HOT SHOWER
….”you’re such a racist son of a bitch Mr.Hat” <;~»
Imperial wizard and grand Dragon! It’s like something a bunch of teenage boys would come up with. I’m surprised they don’t have titles like ‘thunder eagle’ or ‘ghost ninja’ as well.
Still a bunch of brainwashed bigots. No surprise there.
The fact that you’re even getting red thumbs for that is actually scary
Donal, unfortunately some brainwashed bigots are on our very own shores! Shudder
Could at least 1 red thumb explain their reason for red thumbing?
Online racist trolls.. usually Americans/Far right British trolls searching websites, had an argument on here before with one that had 7 other accounts before he finally admitted he wasnt Irish but said that it was a worldwide problem so he was compelled to comment on a random Irish site. Usually use the tag “Anti-racism is a codeword for Anti-white”
Why do people here think you’re a troll if your opinion is different to theirs?
Because these are a very special breed of trolls with multiple accounts but no real name, posting slogans and incoherant nonsense trying to attract the lowest common denominator. They’re also very touchy with the subject of Native Americans…
I believe it was MLK himself who said “it’s not the colour of the thumb that matters but the contents of the post”.
Kevin in order to explain they would first have to be able to write, and not be married to their sister
Lower case T wielding rednecks !!!
There a bunch of losers now, will be glad when this organisation dies off.
They were always a bunch of losers
Now ? Kevin
They used to be a majority in America which is why I say now. Not that I ever supported them I hate their views. Besides I’m only 20 so I unfortunately missed most of the 20th century
Well Kevin
I read your comments and you have a good head on your shoulders for a 20 year old.
Good man yourself.
They had more members at one time but were never , ever the majority.
Louis Theroux’s documentary with the black nationalist movement is well worth a look as well.
The orange order and the ku klux klan brothers for ever seen that banner on a march on YouTube before says it all really.
The vast majority of the KKK membership are poor, badly educated, rural people. They fear what they don’t understand and as such are no different to many other groups and organizations across the globe. They have gone from a membership of 1 Million + during the Great Depression down to about 5000. And in an other generation or so that number will have decreased to the point that they will be more than a few hundred hard core hate filled people.
The US is full of these skum. Most of the tea party members wouldn’t make strange with the KKK. They should move to Ukraine and help their fellow fascists.
5000 out of population of 300 million. Hardly full.
500000 min
Can you back up that number Nicole?
Yes
Then please do so. Show us were you are getting that number from.
Only good for having picnics these days. The Kit Kat Klan.
Rednecks with a combined IQ of about 10. The pictures say it all an organisation of hilbillys and hicks!
Looking at the pictures these people really fit into the stereo type don’t they.
Title says Klu Klux Klan …. should be Ku Klux Klan.
The KKK is the least of America’s worries concerning gangland violence today.
Who cares about the kkk, this is only going to please them because they’re being talked about.if all they are doing is bbq’s well lets hope they get a dose of the trotts.
I think people are too harsh on the KKK. I mean if they weren’t a bunch of evil, racist, bigoted, inbred, moronic, backwards, gaptoothed, hillbilly laughing stocks with a collective IQ of 4 they’d probably be slightly less Hateable.
The term redneck is thrown around a lot these days…..
But still.
The KKK was started by Albert Pike who predicted 3 world wars. The first two happened exactly how he said. The third is shaping up to prove him right. He did this in 1871.
I’m neither a fan of Pike or the KKK.
No, J. Calvin Jones, Frank O. McCord, John B. Kennedy, John C. Lester, James R. Crowe and Richard R. Reed were the founding six..
The KKK were founded after the civil war , The Union sent down armed Black Auxiliaries to “Police” ( punish) the defeated Confederates.
The local inhabitants formed a secret society to fight back, much like the Auxiliaries verses the old IRA.
History.
John I don’t know where you get your American history from, but I’d advise to be wary of reading any site that treats Mein Kampf as a bible and taking it as fact..
So killjoy , you seem like a great one to give advice, where did the Klan originate then?
Just going to warn the Journal you’re going to see a surge in views from foreign IP Addresses with a high rate of liking/disliking/posting comments…
It is an internet site
Bloody foreign IP addresses, comin’ over heeor ‘n takin’ all ar jobs! *shakes fist*
I’m neither a fan nor a critic.
My only comment would be that perhaps it serves to alert society to what happens when reasonable people become unreasonable – when their concerns about (for example) sexual crime and illegal immigration aren’t addressed by the authorities. Then the frustration sets in and the vigilantes decide to take direct action
Besides the shocking fact your not a critic of the KKK I would encourage you to read why they were established. Nothing to do with crime rates or the criminal justice system. Just unreasonable people afraid to coexist with the race they enslaved for centuries .
Also an interesting fact is the Democratic Party strongly opposed an end to slavery….it was a republican President and party that ended it.
Steve – The parties were massively different then
I’m sure everyone was massively different back then. Sure Lincoln opposed equality for black people but also opposed slavery. Nobody is perfect but we continuously need individuals like Lincoln who expressed views ahead of his time.
I simply make an observation on a societal issue and you feel the need to patronise in order to validate your point, why ?
I don’t know why you would be shocked that I don’t follow the herd and automatically criticise things that they criticise.
I am fully aware of the background of the KKK and if you are you will know that their raison d’etre now is very different to then. NOWADAYS they are concerned with the issues I raised not slavery, etc.
The KKK are just off their t*tties
Are there two African-American men in the 8th picture down? At a KKK barbecue?! I’m confused.
Were probably on the menu…..or just a good ole spit-roastin’!!
The lads in Iona would love to become a twin organisation I’d say
@ Kenneth Bambrick, no we need the people like we need a hole in the head, but then we dont also need every city and town in Ireland looking like a suburb of London or Manchester either. That is happening in a before our very eyes, without a squeak from any of our politicians.
That is the plan since a group of people who feel they are the superior race got together at the end of the 1800s and planned the downfall of Europe while their new nation flourishes. Anyone who objects to this social dilution technique is to be ridiculed by their own brainwashed neighbours.
You are to be castigated if you want to preserve your nation.
You must conform to the great plan.
And the group of people I speak of are not the Nazis, their plan is multi-generational and continues very much on track today manipulating US politics and military to do its bidding
They single out certain groups they don’t like, deny them any right to a voice, reduce them to cartoon bogeymen to be despised,denigrated, and heaped with contempt. All the while showing no awareness of how ridiculous their bigotry is in the face of all men’s common humanity…..
But enough about the commenters on this article, let’s talk about the Ku Klux Klan……
@ Kevin Higgins actually Kenneth Bambrick’s comments, while expressed in very poor taste, in my opinion are not too for off the mark, the majority of people think in a fairly similar view, (yes we all know about our home grown wasters etc etc,) but that still doesn’t change anything, our population is expected to increase by a few million in the next 30 years and as the indigenous population tend to have the usual 2,5 kids (with the exception of one group!!) we could be in a minority in our own country.
You’re leaning a bit to the right there taxi. We have to stop also pointing the finger at the poorest and weakest in our society for all the problems. There are lot of people in Ireland who never saw a penny of the Celtic Tiger but are paying for it now. And as for us been a minority in our own country isn’t even debatable never mind a reality.
@ Mr.Phil.Officer A small correction Mr Phil, I stated that we could be a minority in 30+ years. Not pointing the finger at that most over used term “poorest and most vulnerable” section of society, which actually in my opinion the people who work , have a reasonable salary, but have very little disposable income, because they have to pay for everything ( doctor, dentist, school books water, property etc) as well as seeing 40/60% of their wages being taken at source in PAYE, PRSI, USC etc, whereas people on the “bottom” have very few of those expenses.
If that is leaning to the right fine, but it seems leaning the other way has found us with a large chunk of out population haply suckling at the taxpayer teat! (no im not speaking about the people who lost their jobs due to the crash, and leaving aside the bankers/bondholders!!)
@Taxi Bill
Sweet Jesus, they’re long sentences. Have a look back at your posts – it looks interesting but you sound insane!
So who exactly are you against? Travellers? Dole-busters? Immigrants?
Just chill out a bit and read your post before pressing submit.
Fascist neo nazi skum. Same gene pool as those in Ukraine
Or one could say they are the same as these Guys Nicole.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_National_Unity
There the same as every other racist minority worldwide.
Actually their gene pool is from Ireland by way of the Scotch Irish settlers of the South.
The wearing of the sashes, the supremacist attitude, the obsession with the pope and Roman Catholics and burning churches and the obsession with bonfires and flames.
One interesting theory is that the KKK name actually comes from Scots gadhlig. Native speakers existed in Carolina up to the 1840 and there were actually a group of black slaves recorded as being fluent.
Cu Chleócach Clainn
Cloaked Champions of the Clann
We won’t disagree on that Mick. All fascist skum
Is that your favourite word Nicole? You use it at least once a week on the journal.
Dead right Kevin…
Seems you know much of neo nazis and fascists Mick. You support them in Ukraine. Anywhere else?
Nicole. You are the one obsessed with them. A general search on the internet gave me that info.
Aibhe it’s none of your business what word I use. The fact that fascists exist in most countries and the skum needs to be eliminated. The KKK need to be eliminated.
You commented at mine Mick. You support fascists in Ukraine. Simple really. Your a US apologist.
Nicole more than one person has asked you if you understood what Fascism is about. So here is your chance to show that you actually know what you are talking about. Tell us all here what is Fascism?
Mick. If you need to know what fascism is, just chat to some of your buddies in the Ukrainian government. The right sector might be a good start. So less of your questioning me about what’s fascism. It’s you that needs a lesson in what a fascist is. To support them is little better than being one of them. All skum. As the story on the KKK proves, plenty of the extreme right wing alive and well in good old US.
Nicole. I know what it is but my question was do you? So please show us all that you do know and give us your understanding of what Fascism is.
Define eliminated Nicole. At its a word you use in a public forum. It is my business. It’s everybody’s business. You’re not the sharpest eh?
Nicole,
Maybe your a fascist? In another time and place could see you giving Mussolini and hitler the salute.
Nicole is a bitter person.
Btw Nicole I can’t or don’t tolerate the KKK.
I don’t tolerate people like you either.
And Nicole, do you realize that there are nazi groups in Russia?
Simple question.
Declan. I honestly think Nicole has no idea what Fascism is. To her it’s just a fancy word to throw out. She has an almost childlike view of the world. And that can be seen in all her threads. She comes out with statements that at times that are laughable nonsense.
Nicole,
Here you go-
Russian Politician Bullies Female Journalists (VIDEO)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/20/russia-journalist-stella-dubovitskaya-_n_5183432.html
Mick, as I’ve said before she is like a character out of Monty Python.
Fascist, fascist, fascist! That’s all she can say.
Nicole,
Here’s another one.
Ukraine: Photos show Russian troops
http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/21/world/europe/ukraine-crisis/index.html
Your Russian buddies have been caught red handed.
I see all the US cheerleaders are here in force. You all wait for some story about the US and defend the indefensible. You are all brainwashed by CIA and state dept propaganda. You can’t deny the truth so you call names and ask stupid questions. The warmongering US has caused and created more wars than and other country in recent decades. Now off you all go and watch your Rambo movies…
Yawn
“You ask stupid questions”. Nicole any question you don’t know the answer to is stupid according to you.
The simple truth is you call people names that you have absolutely no idea what they mean. That is something I would expect from a 10 year old not an adult.
“The blacks, those magnificent examples of the African race who have maintained their racial purity thanks to their lack of an affinity with bathing, have seen their territory invaded by a new kind of slave: the Portuguese. The contempt and poverty unites them in the daily struggle, but the different way of dealing with life separates them completely;the black is indolent and a dreamer; spending his meager wage on frivolity or drink; the European has a tradition of work and saving, which has pursued him as far as this corner of America and drives him to advance himself, even independently of his own individual aspirations.”
Che Guevara
You have this history right, sean.
Paisley used to visit the bob jones university when in the USA. This was the yasukuni shrine of American racism. Reagan visited as well after he announced for president in a little town only known for the killing of 3 civil rights workers. The klan is America’s incarnation of the orange order but many Irish Americans are too ignorant of history and want to suck up to the rich after they make a few bucks…
Any idea who the current United States president is?
A wannabe dictator !
willie o dea !
Some Black Osama…..according to these shit-kickin yokels!!
Inbreds
Hate starts within but love cant start without hope –
Author unknown 1969
That doesn’t make sense
What makes sense to one may confuse another, we all differ but we are all one.
Me Tarzan you Jane.
Proof that marrying within your family causes problems!!! Never new the KKK were such fans of World of War Craft and dungeon of dragons !! I’ll swop my water troll for your wizard!.. Offended these type if people share the same air not even the same planet with me.
What a bunch of hicks.
They look like prime specimens of humanity.
Ah, they’d be fine after a few weeks in a straitjacket and a full frontal lobotomy!
At the supermarket,do they avoid black bags and go straight for the white ones I wonder?no black olives or dark chocolate?
Probably the most interesting fact is that the Superman radio show during June – July of 1946 “The Clan of the Fiery Cross” caused the collapse of Klan membership across the United States as it leaked details about the Klan rituals and their secret codewords.
There is no hope for the west. Land of the free, home of the brave…
Another group of uneducated fools dressing up!!!
I’d say that was about the most exciting thing to happen in Tupelo since a little known rock and roll star called Elvis was born there many years ago. I stayed there once , it must be the most boring s***hole ever.
your father is your brother
your sister is your mother.
inbred s
@ Tony Kennedy, well Tony I am glad that you can access Afghan cuisine and have the best barber in the world, etc. But the “diverse cultures” being a good thing not so sure< I lived in "multi cultural" London (not in an Irish area) for 12.5 years and worked with people from all over the globe. Interestingly it is not really the great multicultural place that you would think,
There are many areas that are almost exclusively one nationality/culture and a couple of miles down the road you have an almost completely different group and the two almost never mix. That even stretches to Africans, many West Africans dont like one another at all eg Nigeria/Ghana and both really dont get on with West Indians.
Throw in the "Jewish area" around Muswell Hill and The "Muslim area" around Mile End and the Indian area near Heathrow /the Irish around Killburn and you tiny little versions of the home (where ever that was!)
Meanwhile the "white flight" continues far out to the suburbs I returned to Ireland 20 years ago, now with 100,000,000 more people there since then many parts of London are now becoming like the middle east with hundreds of completely black clad "females" wander around in the shopping centres, white children now get bullied as black kids did in the 1950s (as they are in a small minority in many schools) , areas where its not advisable to cary a beer , need I go on?
"I could tell you that diverse cultures in Ireland are a good thing. "………….It sure as hell has not done much for London, Manchester, Birmingham, Astredam, Paris, etc but Dublin, Cork ,Limerick will be different of course, NOT!!!!
100,000,000 more people there”? Where? Apart from the fact that your post is so badly written it’s impossible to make sense of (try reading your posts before pressing ‘submit’), your facts seem somewhat questionable too. If you are claiming there are 100,000,000 people in the London suburbs, that’s quite a rise on the official Greater London population of around 9 million and a UK population of 66 million. If you mean there are 100,000,000 more people in Ireland, well… try again!
Some very good & interesting photograph on this subject
Jon ronson’s book ‘them’ gives an interesting and slightly comical insight into the modern KKK. Worth a read.
Join the KKK and become rich and proud knight. enjoy unlimited riches, power and protection. fear no more as we are ready to make the world your very own. we are happy to drag out a way to add more members and bless them with every of their needs all around the world. Millions of dollars, houses, cars, companies are own by our members who registered as a kuk lux klan (KKK) we are always there to protect our brothers, no fear, we have our own right. join today and be a proud white/black email us for registration: register.kukluxklan@gmail.com
Join the KKK and become rich and proud knight. enjoy unlimited riches, power and protection. fear no more as we are ready to make the world your very own. we are happy to drag out a way to add more members and bless them with every of their needs all around the world. Millions of dollars, houses, cars, companies are own by our members who registered as a kuk lux klan (KKK) we are always there to protect our brothers, no fear, we have our own right. join today and be a proud white email us for registration: register.kukluxklan@gmail.com
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