I have been to a KKK rally

[Sucumbio]

Link to original post: [drupal=2784]I have been to a KKK rally[/drupal]



Mind you I was protesting...

It was while I lived in Topeka, KS. Home of the infamous Fred Phelps. As a resident we (the protesters) were definitely no strangers to the insanity of such hate-filled people. The KKK stood atop the state capital building's steps, a circle of cops in front, armed and ready to defend the KKK's 1st amendment rights. A metal barricade sectioned us off, with more police at the intake to the protester's assembly area with metal detectors. This was on the right side of the field in front of the steps. On the left was a similar, smaller area, where local white supremacists were allowed to gather, to cheer for their brethren. A line of police surrounded them as well, for their protection. I made it on the 6 o'clock news that day, when me and my black girlfriend arrived and noticed the KKK leader was spouting, and none of the protesters were making a sound. Just... listening. F that. We raised hell. "GO HOME GO HOME!" we began to chant. The crowd got well involved then, and then came the news cameras to get footage of whomever it was who (finally) started to protest. Signs came out, speaking to love, friendship... the unity of mankind. The KKK members started eyeballing my gf, making mock throat-slitting motions, hanging motions. She responded in kind with double middle fingers, and raising her voice even louder. "GO HOME!!"

That was almost 10 years ago.

TODAY... they rally at "Ole Miss" state college of Mississippi.

I won't be attending to protest; likely won't even be one. They'll rally in the stadium, before the football game. The crowds will chant "The South Will Rise Again!" And unlike the city of Topeka's very well trained and equipped police, ready for riot... there will be no police, as Oxford, MS is not even incorporated, nor does it have a police force. Campus security, that's it.

I am disgusted at this. The student body president is a black man, and his voice will be silent at worst, ignored at best. This is a state funded school. Should my tax dollars be used to allow this kind of hate mongering on state-funded college property? I can defend a rally of anyone or any interest group, on state grounds... but a COLLEGE. A place of "higher learning."

Makes me truly ashamed this is what it's like. Still.

Although I may not be there in person, as I was 10 years ago, I -am- fully confident that my voice will be heard. I will be writing the offices of state and federal legislators of Mississippi. It may not amount to a hill of ****. But so long as I do nothing, I'm as guilty as they are.

Fight for what's right. Fight hate. Fight ignorance.

That is all.

 

[Pierce7d]

I have the utmost respect for you and your kind.

 

[ndayday]

Someone bring BotW back.

Our community is really racist too. Or, maybe they think they are. Rebel flags flying on trucks, on bumpers, etc. It just feels so wrong, because I go to other places and I see black people, and then I compare it to home where there are hardly any, because they're scared of the reputation that the KKK gave us.

 

[highfive]

Epic Win. I'm calling it. Sucumbio has done the Epic Win.

Congrats on starting the chant. It also sucks they're rioting a college for ****s sake.

 

[VodkaHaze]

Good on ya, mate!
If I was at a KKK rally, I'd joke around and act like a wigga!

 

[Mr.Freeman]

I'm glad i don't live in the deep scary south like you do. The only racists in Florida are old Cuban people.

 

[INSANE CARZY GUY]

I can't understand why someone would be racist but then again I can't see why people lie a lot. really I have a much better reason to be racist.

But hey the right thing is always the right thing to do. Just keep going really even if you fail you still had somekind of impact by makeing it harder for the klan and being it the numbers of anto racist

 

[Sucumbio]

update: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/nov/21/students-shout-down-klan-ole-miss-rally/

All I can say is... way to go!

That's right, KKK. Suck a ****. You are a relic. And you have no place in this world. You thought you'd get support. But now as you can see even in the deepest parts of Mississippi, racism is finally getting the beat down it so deserves.

 

[finalark]

Christ, I hate the KKK. Some of my closest and oldest friends are black, and they sure as Hell shouldn't have to put up with that ****. As Sucumbio said, they're a relic, slowly but surely, xenophobia (which I believe is actually a primal fear of sorts) and racism is starting to die. The KKK should have died years ago, and should have been written about in history books as being as horrible as Nazi Germany.

Sucumbio, you did a good thing by rallying against those monsters. You sir, forever have my respect.

 

[El Nino]

I can defend a rally of anyone or any interest group, on state grounds... but a COLLEGE. A place of "higher learning."

Well, they technically have the right to gather peacefully and soapbox all they want, so long as it's on public property or their own property, not someone else's private space. After all, they pay taxes too.

But it may be a good thing that the rally and the counter-protest happened. If they have the right to vocalize their principles, others also have the right to speak out against their organization and everything it stands for. It seems that Southerners don't want the Klan to be their spokespeople. The rally may have been necessary in order to prove this. If the Klan had been barred from gathering, they could have just cried foul and blamed the government for infringing on their rights. But now, no one is actively oppressing them; they made their point, and it was rejected. The community made it very clear how they stand on the Klan.

I don't know what to say about the song that triggered this conflict though.

 

[benaji261!]

People are people so why should it be
That you and I get along so awfully?

Discrimination is ******** and hypocritical.
" I hate this race because of its color, and I think my color is better. "

gtfo

 

[saviorslegacy]

I am ashamed of part of my family.
On my mom's dad's side they are REALLY racist. They are also sexist and uneducated.
They have had their land since the Virginia purchase and pretty much live the same way. Except I think Aunt Noney has a TV now (no, I am not kidding). One of my great aunts didn't even have electricity.
They are all freakin CRAZY!
Anyways, they would literally beat a black man for sport if they came walking around.

Needless to say, it has been 7 years since I have been back there. I don not plan on ever going again.

 

[Mr. Rogu]

its truly pathetic that some people in the south still feel that way about racism. the fact that people are still chanting "the south will rise again" scares me. whos teaching these people that racism is the way to go? thats what i wanna know

 

[Sucumbio]

Well, they technically have the right to gather peacefully and soapbox all they want, so long as it's on public property or their own property, not someone else's private space. After all, they pay taxes too.

But it may be a good thing that the rally and the counter-protest happened. If they have the right to vocalize their principles, others also have the right to speak out against their organization and everything it stands for. It seems that Southerners don't want the Klan to be their spokespeople. The rally may have been necessary in order to prove this. If the Klan had been barred from gathering, they could have just cried foul and blamed the government for infringing on their rights. But now, no one is actively oppressing them; they made their point, and it was rejected. The community made it very clear how they stand on the Klan.

I don't know what to say about the song that triggered this conflict though.

I agree, it was definitely a good thing it happened, and there's now some speculation this was actually done on purpose. The band was asked by the school not to play that song because it insights the crowd to cheer that cheer, so the KKK runs in to "defend" their rights, and in turn gets humiliated by the students and faculty.

As for my gripe -where- they came to... yah, technically they can gather there, I just really hate that they chose a school campus. Thankfully I went to a private university though that in itself can have its drawbacks... I used to get harassed by right-wing christian fundamentalist groups all the time, lol "Wanna come to bible study?" Sure! I reply thinking they meant in the literal sense, a study of the text as a historical and meaningful piece of mythology.

What did I find? A group of hand-holding, guitar strumming, flower children all trying to 'save' my soul. Thankfully, I wasn't rude, I just left and bid them good day. But woooow, just... yeah. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

 

[saviorslegacy]

its truly pathetic that some people in the south still feel that way about racism. the fact that people are still chanting "the south will rise again" scares me. whos teaching these people that racism is the way to go? thats what i wanna know

They should have learned from the war but nooooooo... they have to go all fighting they are hanging from a rope upside down in the water.

Like their little protests is gonna do anything.

"North wins, slavery is bad, but hey, you got NASCAR."

"Wanna come to bible study?" Sure! I reply thinking they meant in the literal sense, a study of the text as a historical and meaningful piece of mythology.

What did I find? A group of hand-holding, guitar strumming, flower children all trying to 'save' my soul. Thankfully, I wasn't rude, I just left and bid them good day. But woooow, just... yeah. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

lol, wow
My pastor isn't afraid of having a few curse words in his sermons.
This guy is awesome. You gotta love a guy who preaches with a shirt that says, "Jesus loves porn stars too!"

The guy is pretty much awesome. He talks about original meanings of things and talks about the History of a subject and gives you back grounds on their belief on that subject at that time.
He really makes you look at things a whole new way.

The guy is a lawyer and worked on movies in LA. He ran away from home when he was 17 (I know his dad because he is a preacher) and developed cancer about 12 years ago. He is now in his later 30's and runs a church with a few other guys in their late twenties and early thirties called Revolution.
Also, they are musicians. I like some of their stuff better then the original author.
They are really really really good.


But yeah, that is my church.

 

[Sucumbio]

lol, wow
My pastor isn't afraid of having a few curse words in his sermons.
This guy is awesome. You gotta love a guy who preaches with a shirt that says, "Jesus loves porn stars too!"

The guy is pretty much awesome. He talks about original meanings of things and talks about the History of a subject and gives you back grounds on their belief on that subject at that time.
He really makes you look at things a whole new way.

The guy is a lawyer and worked on movies in LA. He ran away from home when he was 17 (I know his dad because he is a preacher) and developed cancer about 12 years ago. He is now in his later 30's and runs a church with a few other guys in their late twenties and early thirties called Revolution.
Also, they are musicians. I like some of their stuff better then the original author.
They are really really really good.


But yeah, that is my church.

Your church sounds awesome. I'm episcopal technically, though I've probably attended more catholic services than anything in recent years... I do feel most comfortable in the old-school churches though, pipe organ, uncomfortable wooden pews, etc. but I will try any church service once, except snake handlers, lol that's just too scary for me

 

[Mr. Rogu]

They should have learned from the war but nooooooo... they have to go all fighting they are hanging from a rope upside down in the water.

Like their little protests is gonna do anything.

"North wins, slavery is bad, but hey, you got NASCAR."

lol. so true. i mean if they didnt win around 150 years ago, they are definately not going to win now.