Changes

===Second Klan===

===Second Klan===

[[File:Oregon KKK March 1920s.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Oregon Klansman in the 1920s.]]

[[File:Oregon KKK March 1920s.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Oregon Klansman in the 1920s.]]

The second KKK was a nonviolent membership organization in the 1920s that reached hundreds of thousands—possibly millions—of men in every state. It was mostly a [[Ponzi scheme]], whereby the organizers took all the money (for initiation fees and costumes).  When they had organized an area they moved on, leaving local chapters without money or leadership.  No prominent American admitted he was a member at the time, but state organizers claimed vast powers.  There is a possibility that some local Klans in the deep South engaged in violence against blacks, but historians are unsure; allegations of systematic violence were common but have not been verified.  In recent years historians have found enough records to show that local chapters were primarily discussion groups, often with speakers who denounced Catholics, Jews, crime and violation of the prohibition laws.   

The second KKK in the 1920s was less violent with a membership that reached hundreds of thousands—possibly millions—of men in every state. It was mostly a [[Ponzi scheme]], whereby the organizers took all the money (for initiation fees and costumes).  When they had organized an area they moved on, leaving local chapters without money or leadership.  No prominent American admitted he was a member at the time, but state organizers claimed vast powers.  There is a possibility that some local Klans in the deep South engaged in violence against blacks, but historians are unsure; allegations of systematic violence were common but have not been verified.  In recent years historians have found enough records to show that local chapters were primarily discussion groups, often with speakers who denounced Catholics, Jews, crime and violation of the prohibition laws.   

In [[Oregon]] during 1922, the Klan and their ally Gov. [[Walter M. Pierce]] successfully pushed to end [[school choice]] with the Compulsory Public Education Act,<ref>[https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/packets/1 "Mixing the Devil's Broth": The KKK and the Compulsory Education Act of 1922]. ''Oregon Encyclopedia''. Retrieved July 3, 2021.</ref><ref>Donohue, Bill (June 30, 2020). [https://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/bill-donohue/scotus-school-choice-decision-win-against-anti-catholic-bigotry SCOTUS School Choice Decision Is a Win Against Anti-Catholic Bigotry]. ''CNS News''. Retrieved July 3, 2021.</ref> which required all children in the state to attend [[public schools]] where their minds could not be free from [[indoctrination]].<ref name=piercevssocietyofsisters>[https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/law/court-cases/pierce-v-society-sisters Pierce v. Society of Sisters]. ''encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved July 2, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/younghistorians/2012/oralpres/6/ The Quiet Bigotry of Oregon's Compulsory Public Education Act]. ''PDXScholar''. Retrieved July 2, 2021.</ref><ref>Kirsanow, Peter (March 3, 2021). [https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/no-escape-from-progressive-education/ No Escape from Progressive Education]. ''National Review''. Retrieved July 3, 2021.</ref> It effectively shut down private Catholic schools, which the KKK despised.<ref>Streit, Katie (July 22, 2020). [https://kobi5.com/news/local-news/the-history-of-racism-in-southern-oregon-part-two-133142/ The history of racism in Southern Oregon: part two]. ''KOTI-TV-NBC2''. Retrieved July 2, 2021.</ref> The measure was supported by the public school establishment and opposed by blacks, Catholics, Jews, Lutherans, and Adventists. It was struck down three years later by the unanimous [[United States Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] decision in ''[[Pierce v. Society of Sisters]]'', with the opinion notably stating:<ref name=piercevssocietyofsisters/>

In [[Oregon]] during 1922, the Klan and their ally Gov. [[Walter M. Pierce]] successfully pushed to end [[school choice]] with the Compulsory Public Education Act,<ref>[https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/packets/1 "Mixing the Devil's Broth": The KKK and the Compulsory Education Act of 1922]. ''Oregon Encyclopedia''. Retrieved July 3, 2021.</ref><ref>Donohue, Bill (June 30, 2020). [https://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/bill-donohue/scotus-school-choice-decision-win-against-anti-catholic-bigotry SCOTUS School Choice Decision Is a Win Against Anti-Catholic Bigotry]. ''CNS News''. Retrieved July 3, 2021.</ref> which required all children in the state to attend [[public schools]] where their minds could not be free from [[indoctrination]].<ref name=piercevssocietyofsisters>[https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/law/court-cases/pierce-v-society-sisters Pierce v. Society of Sisters]. ''encyclopedia.com''. Retrieved July 2, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/younghistorians/2012/oralpres/6/ The Quiet Bigotry of Oregon's Compulsory Public Education Act]. ''PDXScholar''. Retrieved July 2, 2021.</ref><ref>Kirsanow, Peter (March 3, 2021). [https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/no-escape-from-progressive-education/ No Escape from Progressive Education]. ''National Review''. Retrieved July 3, 2021.</ref> It effectively shut down private Catholic schools, which the KKK despised.<ref>Streit, Katie (July 22, 2020). [https://kobi5.com/news/local-news/the-history-of-racism-in-southern-oregon-part-two-133142/ The history of racism in Southern Oregon: part two]. ''KOTI-TV-NBC2''. Retrieved July 2, 2021.</ref> The measure was supported by the public school establishment and opposed by blacks, Catholics, Jews, Lutherans, and Adventists. It was struck down three years later by the unanimous [[United States Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] decision in ''[[Pierce v. Society of Sisters]]'', with the opinion notably stating:<ref name=piercevssocietyofsisters/>

{{cquote|The child is not the mere creature of the state.}}

{{cquote|The child is not the mere creature of the state.}}

A series of scandals rocked the KKK's reputation and the group somewhat faded after the 1924 Democratic National Convention.

 

After furious debate, the resolution failed by a vote of 542.85 in favor to 546.15 opposed.<ref>[http://armored-column.com/the-democratic-klanbake-1924/ Democratic "Klanbake" Convention]</ref> The soaring temperatures gave the convention the name, the Klanbake. At its peak in the mid-1920s, the KKK claimed to include about 15% of the nation's eligible voters, approximately 4–5 million people.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2730 |title=Ku Klux Klan in the Twentieth Century |author=Lay, Shawn |website=New Georgia Encyclopedia |publisher=Coker College }}</ref> The Klan split within the Democratic party over cultural issues, especially [[Prohibition]], which facilitated Republican landslides in 1920, 1924 and 1928.  A series of scandals rocked the KKK's reputation and the group somewhat faded after the 1924 Democratic National Convention.

In 1937 President [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]] appointed Alabama Senator [[Hugo Black]] to the Supreme Court. Black was a member of the Ku Klux Klan and built his career campaigning at Klan meetings.  In ''[[Korematsu v. United States]]'', Black voted to uphold [[President Roosevelt]]'s mass arrests and incarceration of [[Japanese]] men, women, and children based on [[race]].<ref>[https://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/facts-and-case-summary-korematsu-v-us Facts and Case Summary — Korematsu v. U.S.]. ''United States Courts''. Retrieved July 3, 2021.</ref>

In 1937 President [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]] appointed Alabama Senator [[Hugo Black]] to the Supreme Court. Black was a member of the Ku Klux Klan and built his career campaigning at Klan meetings.  In ''[[Korematsu v. United States]]'', Black voted to uphold [[President Roosevelt]]'s mass arrests and incarceration of [[Japanese]] men, women, and children based on [[race]].<ref>[https://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/facts-and-case-summary-korematsu-v-us Facts and Case Summary — Korematsu v. U.S.]. ''United States Courts''. Retrieved July 3, 2021.</ref>

[[File:FDR Truman and KKK.jpeg|right|200px|thumb|Despite historical revisionism, FDR and Truman were in bed with the Klan.<ref>Lord, Jeffrey (August 18, 2017). [https://spectator.org/cuomo-and-de-blasio-ignore-klan-ally-fdr/ Cuomo and De Blasio Ignore Klan Ally FDR]. ''The American Spectator''. Retrieved July 3, 2021.</ref>]]

[[File:FDR Truman and KKK.jpeg|right|200px|thumb|Despite historical revisionism, FDR and Truman were in bed with the Klan.<ref>Lord, Jeffrey (August 18, 2017). [https://spectator.org/cuomo-and-de-blasio-ignore-klan-ally-fdr/ Cuomo and De Blasio Ignore Klan Ally FDR]. ''The American Spectator''. Retrieved July 3, 2021.</ref>]]

===Third Klan===

===Third Klan===

The third Klan currently exists and comprises a few thousand members in local chapters.  There is no real organization, and the group sponsors vehement hate talk as well as occasional violent threats and actions.  It is racist and aims at the suppression of African-American, Jewish, homosexual, and Catholic interests.  The current Klan presents itself as a "Christian" organization, but all denominations have rejected it as inherently non-Christian. Some Klansmen today practice [[Christian Identity]], which has also been condemned by every other [[Christian]] denomination.

The third Klan currently exists and comprises a few thousand members in local chapters.  There is no real organization, and the group sponsors vehement hate talk as well as occasional violent threats and actions.  It is racist and aims at the suppression of African-American, Jewish, homosexual, and Catholic interests.  The current Klan presents itself as a "Christian" organization, but all denominations have rejected it as inherently non-Christian. Some Klansmen today practice [[Christian Identity]], which has also been condemned by every other [[Christian]] denomination.