On January 27th, 2016 a group of KKK members attempted to hold a rally in Anaheim, California. During this rally, anti-fascists violently confronted the white supremacists by beating and bashing them as soon as they arrived. However during the brawl three anti-fascists were stabbed by the Klan, as well as seven being arrested by the police, along with five Klan members. However, all the Klan members have been released while the anti-fascists only have recently been released. (Though they still face possibility of re-arrest.)

The Ku Klux Klan arose out of the post-civil war era as a group dedicated to terrorizing the newly freed black population as well as to promote segregationist and racist policies in order to promote and prop up white supremacy. This was generally done through a mix of community outreach through gatherings that provided music, entertainment and speeches hosted by the Klan, as well as the promotion and use of violent terror acts against people of color, those who do not conform to gender and sexual norms, Catholics, as well as communists and socialists. A common tactic used by the Klan are marches and gatherings that are meant to demonstrate strength (via controlling the streets and occupying space) and support. (via the physical presence of supporters and members.) The most glaring demonstration of this tactic was the 1925 Washington D.C. Klan march that yielding around 25,000 attendees in support of the Klan.

It was around this time in 1924 that four out of the five city council seats (Then called the “Board of Trustees”.) were held by Klan members in Anaheim, California. The focus of the Anaheim Klan at the time was more focused on harassing and opposing local Catholics, as opposed to the more typical harassment of the black population, which didn’t have as much a presence in Orange County at the time. None the less the Klan managed to funnel their own ideological hatred and organizational efforts into making claims against those within the Catholic community that conflicted with their own Protestant ideals, as well as the founding German population, on claims that their traditions would influence them to not enforce prohibition laws as much as they should be.

Harassment of Catholics was conducted via firing city workers who were Catholics, as well as burning crosses outside of Catholic Churches. At one point a large rally organized by the Klan with around 20,000 attendees took place in Pearson park. Along with burning crosses and large gatherings, local Klan members would patrol the city in order to harass Catholics and to unofficially enforce prohibition laws. The Klan at the time acted as its own policing force.

It wasn’t until efforts from groups like USA (Unison, Service, Americanism) pushed against the Klan and after it was publicly revealed that a majority of the city council were Klan members, resulting in an election that would replace the Klan members on the city council, as well as the firing of the ten Klan members found to be on the police force.

Today the Klan is a shell of what it once was, with around 6,000,000 members at its peak, now dwindled down to around 5-8,000 members. This does not mean however that we shouldn’t oppose the Klan, or any white supremacist group for that matter, when they attempt to occupy space and spread their message of hatred. It is important to understand the use of this tactic within the context of the United States. Freedom of speech is something that modern day white supremacist groups use as a means to defend their ability to march and express their hatred. The legalistic context of freedom of speech allows people, such as the Klan, to hide behind a wall of legal protection, backed by the literal force of the police.

Under this context, the Klan may freely rally in areas like Anaheim, (which has a majority Hispanic population of around 52%, notes a 2010 report.) with the knowledge that if anyone attempts to oppose them or their supremacist ideals, they can lash out as violently as they wish, then back away and claim self defense. They may actively provoke and intimidate whomever they wish, so long as they do not actually initiate psychical harm against them. The legalistic aspect causes people who might consider themselves to be relatively moderate, to be in a position where they find themselves defending the voice of white supremacist groups, simply because of the profound idea that all ideologies deserve a platform to preach from, regardless of content or intention.

It is under this context that we find that Klan members may walk freely away with claims of self defense, while anti-fascists who bravely stood up against the xenophobic and racist attempts of the Klan to intimidate them and their community are faced with longer time in police custody and threats of re-arrest upon their release. We clearly in no way can trust our government or its servants in the police to protect us from those who wish to bring coercion and oppression upon us. I have had more hope and seen the possibility in the actions of every day people such as the anti-fascists who were brave enough to confront knife wielding Fascists unarmed, as well as in the donation efforts to help support those anti-fascists whom were harmed in the fight. If we cannot rely on those claiming to represent and protect us, we must do it ourselves and unite together against all those that would seek to oppress and coerce us.

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