| | The Klan had three incarnations in the USA. Several prominent Democrats were members of the KKK including Democrat [[Robert Byrd]], who was a U.S. Senator from [[West Virginia]] for more than 50 years and who had led his local KKK chapter, and Democrat [[Hugo Black]], who was appointed to the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] by [[FDR]] and became the Justice most hostile to [[classroom prayer]] and [[Christianity]] in public life. Despite the Democrat-KKK connection, however, liberals (who falsely claim that the pre-1964 Democrats were a "conservative" party when they were mostly left-leaning [[New Deal]]ers, including a number of Southern [[segregation]]ists) similarly falsely claim the KKK to be a "right-wing" organization when the Klan supported [[gun control]]<ref>Eddlem, Thomas R. (September 9, 2014). [https://thenewamerican.com/the-racist-origin-of-america-s-gun-control-laws/ The Racist Origin of America’s Gun Control Laws]. ''The New American''. Retrieved July 2, 2021.</ref><ref>Blow, Charles M. (January 7, 2016). [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/07/opinion/gun-control-and-white-terror.html Gun Control and White Terror]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved July 2, 2021.</ref> and opposed [[school choice]].<ref>Wallace, Jerry L. (July 14, 2014). [https://coolidgefoundation.org/blog/the-ku-klux-klan-in-calvin-coolidges-america/ The Ku Klux Klan in Calvin Coolidge’s America]. ''Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation''. Retrieved July 2, 2021.</ref> | | The Klan had three incarnations in the USA. Several prominent Democrats were members of the KKK including Democrat [[Robert Byrd]], who was a U.S. Senator from [[West Virginia]] for more than 50 years and who had led his local KKK chapter, and Democrat [[Hugo Black]], who was appointed to the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] by [[FDR]] and became the Justice most hostile to [[classroom prayer]] and [[Christianity]] in public life. Despite the Democrat-KKK connection, however, liberals (who falsely claim that the pre-1964 Democrats were a "conservative" party when they were mostly left-leaning [[New Deal]]ers, including a number of Southern [[segregation]]ists) similarly falsely claim the KKK to be a "right-wing" organization when the Klan supported [[gun control]]<ref>Eddlem, Thomas R. (September 9, 2014). [https://thenewamerican.com/the-racist-origin-of-america-s-gun-control-laws/ The Racist Origin of America’s Gun Control Laws]. ''The New American''. Retrieved July 2, 2021.</ref><ref>Blow, Charles M. (January 7, 2016). [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/07/opinion/gun-control-and-white-terror.html Gun Control and White Terror]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved July 2, 2021.</ref> and opposed [[school choice]].<ref>Wallace, Jerry L. (July 14, 2014). [https://coolidgefoundation.org/blog/the-ku-klux-klan-in-calvin-coolidges-america/ The Ku Klux Klan in Calvin Coolidge’s America]. ''Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation''. Retrieved July 2, 2021.</ref> |
| | The first KKK was a movement of Democrats who opposed [[Reconstruction]]. It was founded in 1866 by members of the [[Democrat Party]] to inflicting violence against black leaders and white Republicans.<ref>http://www.history.com/topics/ku-klux-klan</ref> Its purpose was to take control and return Democrats to power. One of the founders, and the first "Grand Wizard," was former Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Attempts were made to break up the Klan by President [[Ulysses S. Grant]] and the U.S. Army using the Civil Rights Act of 1871 (also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act). | | The first KKK was a movement of Democrats who opposed [[Reconstruction]]. It was founded in 1866 by members of the [[Democrat Party]] to inflicting violence against black leaders and white Republicans.<ref>http://www.history.com/topics/ku-klux-klan</ref> Its purpose was to take control and return Democrats to power. One of the founders, and the first "Grand Wizard," was former Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Attempts were made to break up the Klan by President [[Ulysses S. Grant]] and the U.S. Army using the Civil Rights Act of 1871 (also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act). |