Association of Georgia Klans

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The Association of Georgia Klans (AGK), also known as the Associated Klans of Georgia , was a clan organization founded by Samuel Green in 1944 and directed by Samuel Green until his death in 1949. At its wedding, the clan had local chapters called "Klaverns" in all 159 counties of Georgia as well as in Alabama , Tennessee , South Carolina and Florida . There were also connections to Ohio and Indiana . After Green's death, the organization split into different factions. She also got into trouble with the tax office and tried to avoid the public. When the Supreme Court passed its famous judgments against racial segregation in schools known as Brown v. Board of Education , the Klan was already dissolved. A second Association of Georgia Klans was founded in 1960 by Charles Maddox , who brought together disappointed members of the US Klan under his leadership. From this group, James Venables National Knights of the Ku Klux Klan developed in 1965 . An association still exists under the name today, which has only the name in common with the original clan.

history

Foundation phase

"Grand Dragon" Dr. Samuel Green surrounded by two children in Ku Klux Klan robes at an initiation ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia on July 24, 1948

The association was formed at the Klonvocation (big meeting), which also ushered in the second era of the clan. The new group was to become an informal grouping consisting of several claverns (local chapters) of the state of Georgia. Green was voted "Grand Dragon". At the beginning the association consisted of only twelve Klaverns. In October 1945 the first cross-burn took place on Stone Mountain . At that time the association consisted of approximately 20,000 members. On March 21, 1946, the clan's legal counsel, Morgan Telsner, registered the association with the Georgia Secretary of State and paid taxes retrospectively for 1943–46 . On May 9, 1946, the first major post-war initiation took place. Green conducted the initiation rite with 227 new members who were introduced into the clan before 1,000 clansmen under the light of five burning crosses. 1,000 uninvolved spectators are also said to have been present. Look magazine secured the exclusive rights to the photos.

Legal difficulties

This show of force was viewed with suspicion by political and trade union organizations. On May 30, the Tax Authority complained Internal Revenue Service to the Association, a successor to the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan Inc. to be and the government 685,305 US dollars to debt. Green stated that his organization had nothing to do with the previous clan. Although there would be personal overlaps, the Association would not be a continuation of the Klan, although it would be able to revive this faction at the right time.

Governor Ellis Arnall was also an enemy of the clan. Attorney General Eugene Cook has been instructed to use all means against the Association. The Klan would evade taxes and pretend to be a non-profit organization, when in fact they would amass substantial amounts of money and in return only spread hatred and violence. The crackdown on the Klan even became an election issue. Various pieces of evidence were presented to Judge Frank A. Hooper of Fulton County Superior Court on June 20, 1946 to prove that the Association was identical to the Klan . The prosecutor proved that the Association used the same Kloran (the holy book of the Ku Klux Klan), the same titles, secret symbols and passwords as the Knights and seven Klaverns in Alabama that were under the Knights.

While the trial was being prepared, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation stated that they had evidence that members of the Association of Georgia Klans had committed violent crimes. Klan members are said to have killed a taxi driver in August 1945. They are also said to have kidnapped a black Navy veteran on February 13, 1946 and inflicted 52 lashes . There were also plans to take out Governor Arnell.

The collection of evidence extended over the summer and autumn of 1946. Attempts were made to prove that the Klan had connections with the German American Bund and would still have contacts with the fascists . In September the clan supported the Democrat Eugene Talmadge in the election campaign. Talmadge promised to drop the case if he became governor in January. Fearing that the trial might burst, it was brought forward to December 1946. But the Klan successfully sued against it.

Eugene Talmadge died on December 21st. There was no immediate successor. So a competition for the governor's post arose in the state. At his funeral, the Klan sent a large wreath of flowers with 5 gold K (for Knights of the Ku Klux Klan). After a tough argument, Melvin E. Thompson became governor on March 20, 1947. He promised to pursue the case.

After the state dropped the murder, whipping, imprisonment, and public disorder charges in June 1947, the Georgia Charter dissolved. Prosecutor Eugene Cook said it was too difficult to prove that the organization as a whole was responsible for the violence. So the AGK could initially keep its name, even if the state charter had to be dissolved. On November 4, records relating to high-ranking state officials with the clan were stolen from Cook.

Influencing voters

In the 1948 election, the Klan tried to intimidate mainly black voters. In Wrightsville , 300 robed Klansmen marched before a Democratic rally and set fire to a 15-foot cross. Grand Dragon Green rejected Harry S. Truman's civil rights policies, stating that blood would flow every time a black man voted. None of the 241 black eligible voters went to vote the next day. Cross burns occurred in Swainsboro , Mount Vernon, and Jeffersonville . In addition, threatening letters and coffins with the KKK engraved on them were sent to black voters.

Connections to other groups

Although they shared similar anti-Semitic and racist beliefs as the Atlanta-based Columbians Inc. , the two groups did not get along. One of the reasons lawyer Morgan Belser tried to reactivate the Georgia charter was to prevent the clan's name from being tainted by the Columbians or other groups. When the Columbians tried to kill journalist Stetson Kennedy in an Atlanta courthouse in 1947, it was Klansman Ira Jett who eliminated the attacker.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ DP: Merry-go-round . The Washington Post (1923-1954), May 19, 1947, p. 12. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/151959702?accountid=5683
  2. ↑ Michael and Judy Ann Newton: The Ku Klux Klan; to encyclopedia . Garland Reference Library of the Social Science Vol 499. London and New York: Garland Publishing inc. 1991. S. xi, 27-8, 238
  3. ↑ Newton and Newton pp.374-375
  4. ^ Association of Georgia Klans ( Memento of the original from March 17, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / associationofklanskkkk.weebly.com
  5. ↑ UP: Green, clan chief, this at his home . The New York Times, August 19, 1949. P. 1.
  6. ^ Clan in Georgia becomes active . (1945, Oct 21). Los Angeles Times, October 21, 1945. p. 10.
  7. ^ Laboratory in Georgia asks Klan inquiry . The New York Times, May 11, 1946, p. 30.
  8. ^ Arnold S. Rice: The Ku Klux Klan in American politics - Washington, Public Affairs Press 1962, pp. 108-109
  9. ↑ Thousands don robes in fiery klan revival . Chicago Daily Tribune, May 11, 1946 p. 6. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/177285671?accountid=5683
  10. ^ DP: Washington merry-go-round . The Washington Post, June 3, 1946 p. B6. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/151857388?accountid=5683
  11. ↑ US Sue's Georgia klan for $ 685,305 in taxes. Los Angeles Times, May 31, 1946. p. 6. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/165656538?accountid=5683
  12. ↑ Harold B. Hinton: Klan head denies national status . New York Times, June 19, 1946. p. 19
  13. ↑ Georgia orders action to revoke charter of klan . New York Times, May 31, 1946. p. 1
  14. ↑ Klan issue grows in Peorgia poll . New York Times June 1, 1946, pp. 13. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/107577150?accountid=5683
  15. ↑ S Klan is accused of a plot revolt . New York Times, June 21, 1946. pp. 46-46.
  16. ^ Newton and Newton, p. 321
  17. ↑ Slaying linked to reborn klan after boasts. Chicago Daily Tribune June 8, 1946. p. 13.
  18. ↑ Bosting on flogging charged to klan affiliate in georgia . The Christian Science Monitor on June 8, 1946 p. 7.
  19. ↑ Harold B. Hinton: Georgia klan curb to be moral only . New York Times, June 22, 1946. p. 21.
  20. ^ Newton and Newton p. 24
  21. ↑ Klan wins delay on Georgia's suit . New York Times, November 30, 1946. p. 21.
  22. ↑ Georgia says klan sought bund help . New York Times, November 10, 1946. pp. 23-23
  23. ↑ Jersey and Georgia join to fight klan. (1946, Aug 10). The Washington Post, August 10, 1946. p. 5
  24. ↑ Talmadge is dead at 62 in Georgia . New York Times, December 22, 1946. p. 1
  25. ↑ Thousands in homage to Talmadge at bier New York Times of December 23, 1946. p. 23
  26. ↑ Thompson poshes Georgia klan case . New York Times of March 21, 1947 p. 4th
  27. ^ Klan surrenders Georgia charter New York Times, June 14, 1947. p. 30.
  28. ↑ Data on Klan stolen from Ga. Capitol. The Washington Post, November 5, 1947 p. 13
  29. ↑ Not one negro votes in Georgia election after Klan parade. Chicago Daily Tribune March 4, 1948. p. 14
  30. ^ Rice p.109
  31. ↑ Newton and Newton pp.352-3
  32. ↑ National Ku Klux charter revoked by state of Georgia. The Washington Post, June 14, 1947. p. 1.
  33. ↑ North, S .: Saved from Columbians by Klan! . The Washington Post, April 10, 1947. pp. 13.