First National KKK Rally

The first national Ku Klux Klan rally was held in Washington, D.C., on August 8, 1925, ninety-one years ago. It is reported to have started in Pulaski, Tennessee, in December 1865 as a social club by six former Confederates. Members met in Nashville in 1867 to establish rules and guidelines. However, it evolved into something more and was suppressed in the 1870's, because it wanted to overthrow Reconstruction governments in the South.Yet, although it dwindled, some believe that local pockets continued to operate in secret.

The organization regrouped and begin to flourish in 1915. This time, it spread into the Midwest and West. Now, it not only opposed blacks, but also Jews and Catholics. This group wore the standard white costumes and conical hats but added cross burning and parading in masses. The first national KKK rally in D.C. came under this group.

The last resurgence of the Klan came in 1950 and continued through the sixties to fight the new Civil Rights laws and desegregation. More than at any other time, local law enforcement often joined their ranks, making it hard to oppose them until federal marshals stepped in. 

Even in these modern times, the Klan still exists. It's estimated that there's about 150 chapters across the United States with around 5,000 members. Today, many consider them a terrorist organization. The city of Charleston, SC, declared them one in 1999. They appear in my fourth and final book in the Appalachian Roots series, Transplanted to Red Clay, which should go to the printer in a few days.

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