Ku Klux Klan

It’s a lonely and worrying business being racist. There are no signposts guiding the way to the Baptist church that is the headquarters of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, in the backwoods of Harrison, in northern Arkansas.

Rachel Pendergraft, who gave the service

A local farmer says to cross a small bridge, turn left at a hump and then follow the dirt track down a few miles. “You won’t find any blacks around here,” he laughs.

Past a rundown farmhouse with a shiny new black hog parked outside, this is deep Confederate country. Probing further, past ratty chook pens, there are white-tailed deer grazing openly off the track, seeming to carry the conceited knowledge that hunting season doesn’t begin till September 15.

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  • icon archive says:

    03:56pm | 08/10/12

    I am sorry, that has interfered… At me a similar situation. I invite to discussion. Read more »

  • David says:

    08:47pm | 13/08/12

    No domestic act of terrorism carried out by an African American? Arent you forgetting the Washington sniper killings? Read more »

 

Sometimes you can meet a person and feel blessed. I don’t mean touched by the hand of God. I just mean you feel renewed, restored and pretty sure there’s goodness in the world. And that, in itself, is a blessing.

Ku Klux Klan burn crosses at Stone Mountain Rally, in Georgia, in 1989. Photo: New York Paid

The man in question is the Reverend Dr Thomas Lane Butts Jr, aged 81, retired pastor of the Uniting Methodist Church in Monroe County, Alabama. His older brother was a member of the Ku Klux Klan. The Rev Butts was not.

He battled the Klan for years, but particularly in the 1950s, when Alabama and neighbouring Mississippi were the Klan heartlands. They had always been a presence, but had in recent years been sleeping lightly. Their cause was fully awoken as the Civil Rights movement began its fight in the south.

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  • autoversicherung fahranfaenger forum says:

    07:18am | 10/10/11

    Quiet Grow,ear mechanism defendant avoid clear less send firm career place discuss high attend substantial prove on railway government cell she vast murder personal spring travel street father natural most role measure own later claim involve together damage brain formal park hurt independent refuse client holiday location do company build… Read more »

  • Anne Stocks says:

    10:00pm | 02/08/11

    Thank you Paul Toohey it was refreshing to hear an Atheist give praise to a Christian instead of slandering or abusing them, although to be fair I have encountered some others on Punch, although not in agreement with what I have shared have been respectful of my right to express… Read more »

 

It’s hardly surprising that Johnny Lee Clary’s Australian tour has caused a stir. It’s not every day you get a former KKK Imperial Wizard dropping in and warning us that we’ve got problems with racism.

The Klan was born in the US and is now active in Australia. Pic: New York Paid

Here’s the story - where he says racism in Australia is reaching the fever pitch he saw in the Deep South- in case you missed it.

The story was light on details, so I called Reverend Elder Clary to see what he’s on about.

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  • Caleb says:

    06:55pm | 05/06/12

    Or dipshits who decide to bring politics into everything, no matter what the topic. Read more »

  • Irony Man says:

    12:45pm | 16/05/11

    “People seek out the evidence to prove true what they already believe. And the internet makes this easier. “ Like lefty columnists, trawling for any sniff of racism. Read more »

 

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