KKK opening doors to Blacks, Gays, Jews and Hispinics

[dragon]

Ok this definitively leaves me scratching my head.

White supremacist organisation, the Ku Klux Klan is rebranding as the "new Klan" by trying to increase membership to Jews, black people, gays and those of Hispanic origin.

However, all those wanting to join the ultra-right wing society will have to wear the white robes, masks and conical hats. The Klan is estimated to have between 5,000 and 8,000 members according to figures released in 2012.

The Ku Klux Klan is notorious for racist violence, including lynchings of black people. It is classified as a hate group by the anti-semitism organistion Anti-Defamation League and the civil rights law firm Southern Poverty Law Center.

The requirements for joining the new KKK group, called the Rocky Mountain Knights, are to be aged 18 and live in the Pacific Northwest.

Some black people have already expressed an interest in joining, after John Abarr organised a summit with civil rights groups.

Abarr, who has claimed that he is a former white supremacist, told the Great Falls Tribune, "The KKK is for a strong America. White supremacy is the old Klan. This is the new Klan."

Abarr has organised a peace summit with religious groups and the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) next summer.

The KKK organiser from Great Falls, Montana told the Associated Press that he filled out a membership card to NAACP, not only paying the $30 enrollment fee but also adding a $20 donation.

Jimmy Simmons, a president of the Montana NAACP chapter, said that while he questioned the use of the letters KKK, if the peace summit took place, he would "take a strong look" at joining the Rocky Mountain Knights.

"If John Abarr was actually reformed, he could drop the label of the KKK," said Rachel Carroll-Rivas from the Montana Human Rights Network. "They know that their beliefs aren't popular, so they try to appear moderate. I think it's just a farce. Our mission for the last 24 years has been to shine a light on hatred."

However, the more traditional elements of the organisation were unhappy about the direction Abarr is heading in.

Bradley Jenkins, Imperial Wizard of the KKK, said: "That man's going against everything the bylaws of the constitution of the KKK say. He's trying to hide behind the KKK to further his political career."

In 2011 Abarr, describing himself as a former KKK organiser, ran as a Republican for Montana's seat in the US House of Representatives, reportedly believing there would be a backlash against President Obama's re-election.

According to an Associated Press report at the time, Abarr's manifesto included "promises to legalize marijuana, increase mental health programs, keep abortion legal, abolish the death penalty… and 'save the White Race.'"

At the time mainstream Republicans denounced Abarr as a racist. "There's no room for racism in our party," said Rich Hill, a former Republican congressman who lost the 2012 election for Montana's governor. "That is not what we are about, and we have never been about that.

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The Ku Klux Klan is diversifying. Really. Well, apparently.

Despite being better known for burning crosses on lawns, lynchings and horrific racism, the group is opening its doors to Jews, black people and gays.

The rebranded organisation called the Rocky Mountain Knights claims to now stand for "a strong America" rather than irrational hatred.

They also claim they will not discriminate against people because of race, religion or sexual orientation.

The move comes after John Abarr, a KKK organiser from Great Falls, Montana, and the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NCAAP), met for discussions last year.

Abarr said: "I thought it was a really good organisation. I don't feel we need to be separate.

"The KKK is for a strong America. White supremacy is the old Klan. This is the new Klan."

But many have questioned the motives of Abarr claiming he is only trying to further his own career, especially current KKK members.

Bradley Jenkins, Imperial Wizard of the KKK, said: "That man’s going against everything the bylaws of the constitution of the KKK say. He’s trying to hide behind the KKK to further his political career."

The requirements for prospective klansmen are that you are 18, and live in the Pacific Northwest.

Members will still have to wear the notorious white robes and take part in a load of weird rituals and they will still adopt a strong suspicion of a 'New World Order'.

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[Borgholio]

[mr friendly guy]

Don't you guys get it. The KKK isn't about hatred against other races. Its about pride in your own race. Duh.

[Broomstick]

Yeah, at least some of the KKK was about pride in one's own race, not mixing races, and races living separately. At least on paper.

In practice... there were problems, mostly with the white boys wanting to be on top of everyone else.

Too much baggage with the name if you ask me. If they want an inclusive group with pride in being American they need to start over.

[The Romulan Republic]

The not mixing races and segregation stuff is pretty repulsive, so I'm not even giving them points for the "on paper" bit.

[Mlenk]

I never saw them mention if Asian Americams were allowed to join. A shame really. I really wanted to join the KKK

[Zixinus]

OK, can somebody please explain how this makes sense?

Isn't the KKK devoted solely to being white supremacists?

[Purple]

OK, can somebody please explain how this makes sense?

Isn't the KKK devoted solely to being white supremacists?

From what I understand, and take the following with a bag of salt the KKK is not about white supremacy but racial segregation. Basically, they have no problem with black or asian people or jews living in america. But they want to make sure everyone sticks to their own communities, intermarries with their own race and basically have a separate america for each race.

[Thanas]

Yeah, that is their public position, which also translates as "please don't stomp me too hard, Mr. Federal Government".

The Ackbar picture is very appropriate.

[AniThyng]

OK, can somebody please explain how this makes sense?

Isn't the KKK devoted solely to being white supremacists?

From what I understand, and take the following with a bag of salt the KKK is not about white supremacy but racial segregation. Basically, they have no problem with black or asian people or jews living in america. But they want to make sure everyone sticks to their own communities, intermarries with their own race and basically have a separate america for each race.

Reading some of the more strident SJ blogs about how whites should be kept away from cultural appropriation and avoided lest they contaminate with their privilege I'm not entirely sure this attitude that race/culture should be kept "separate" (but equal?) is limited to the KKK.

[Covenant]

Reading some of the more strident SJ blogs about how whites should be kept away from cultural appropriation and avoided lest they contaminate with their privilege I'm not entirely sure this attitude that race/culture should be kept "separate" (but equal?) is limited to the KKK.

I would recommend not reading strident blogs then. Unlike the Klan the people from tumblr don't come and lynch your family. Identity politics are bad no matter who does it, but I would never call some random kid in the blogosphere as dangerous or as historically relevant as a voice for hate as the Klan, however. That's a false equivalence.

Also, cultural appropriation is a real thing, people need to stop turning it into a joke just because the majority of people complaining about it are jokes. They should leave it to the anthropologists, just like the New Agers and their appropriation of quantum mechanics.

[loomer]

Anyone check the temperature in Hell?

[Raw Shark]

According to an Associated Press report at the time, Abarr's manifesto included "promises to legalize marijuana, increase mental health programs, keep abortion legal, abolish the death penalty… and 'save the White Race.'"

I'm a little unsettled that I'm strongly with this guy on 80% of his issues.

[Grumman]

If these "Rocky Mountain Knights" don't act like asshats, that is far, far more important than whether they identify as being an offshoot of the KKK. Modern Catholics might use the same name as the organisation that burnt Protestants at the stake for heresy, but we rightly concern ourselves more with what they do today than what their predecessors did.

[Gandalf]

I'm a little unsettled that I'm strongly with this guy on 80% of his issues.

Yeah, I've met some Nazis who are surprisingly progressive in parts. Even the race thing was boiled down to "strong cultural identity" or something similar.

[General Zod]

According to an Associated Press report at the time, Abarr's manifesto included "promises to legalize marijuana, increase mental health programs, keep abortion legal, abolish the death penalty… and 'save the White Race.'"

I'm a little unsettled that I'm strongly with this guy on 80% of his issues.

Didn't South Park do an episode on this? About how the quickest way to make something illegal was for the Klan to give it the thumbs up?

[Ralin]

Didn't South Park do an episode on this? About how the quickest way to make something illegal was for the Klan to give it the thumbs up?

I think it was more "Hey guys, you do realize that everyone hates us and that if you demonstrate in support of the South Park flag* it will turn people against it."

*Which portrayed a black guy being lynched by several white people. Was ultimately replaced by a new flag portraying a multi-racial lynch mob.

[Ahriman238]

Somehow I feel like none of these groups are overcome with joy because joining the Klan was the one thing they really wanted, but never got to do.

[Joun_Lord]

According to an Associated Press report at the time, Abarr's manifesto included "promises to legalize marijuana, increase mental health programs, keep abortion legal, abolish the death penalty… and 'save the White Race.'"

I'm a little unsettled that I'm strongly with this guy on 80% of his issues.

Hitler liked animals and alot of Nazi's were environmentalists. Current German animal welfare laws are supposedly just modified versions of the laws introduced by them nutty Nazi's.

But then Hermann Goring wanted the punishment for vivisection to be a one way trip to a concentration camp to probably be vivisected.

Terrible people can hold pretty good positions at times. People are pretty nuanced creatures.

Also, this is probably my ignorance and general southern stupidity, not to mention the possibility of social osmosis of KKK ideals thanks to being practically next door neighbors to a buttload of them, talking but I'm unsure what is totally terrible about wanting to protect the white race assuming the person isn't meaning "destroy other races" or "put white devils first". Having pride in ones heritage and racial accomplishments aren't exactly unheard of with most races nor is a want to continue that race.

White people are told (by some) to feel ashamed for what their race does or did or is going to do, to take no pride in what they have done that doesn't involve genocide, slavery, rape, and the KFC Double Down, and that they are are racist if they don't find people of other races sexually attractive. Some white people feel like there is a real assault on being white.

Asians might take pride in their ancient accomplishments, hispanics are prideful of their heritage, and some black people seem to think sisters getting with white men is a betrayal of their race.

Are they incorrect to feel this way? Is it just as racist for African Americans to have a racial pride league as it is for "European Americans"? Is it wrong for other races to frown upon race mixing?

A disclaimer, I don't personally agree with the white pride, protect the white race crap because personally I don't really think there is singular white race (anymore then there is a singular asian or black race). And me protecting the white race is kinda of like closing the barn door after the horse done gone considering I'm a racial mutt that is confirmed to be atleast part black and probably a bit part everything else.

But I am genuinely curious in regards to white people vs everyone else about being prideful in ones physical trait that don't make a lick of difference except how well they sunburn.

[ArmorPierce]

There's always going to be a difference when racism is coming from the group in power.

Another issue is when you try to make a color blind society... you don't really make a color blind society... you still are left with the effects of centuries of oppression and a running lead from the benefactors of it.

I can understand the thought process of some black people getting mad at people getting with white men. I can imagine that they see it as them taking the easy way out and leaving everyone else behind and/or being lured in and attracted to the status and power which is associated with the dominant group.

[phred]

IIRC the KKK was originally about protecting 'True Americans and American Ideals' or something. Which didn't include blacks or Jews or Roman Catholics. Maybe they've just finally accepted that all those things are as much American as Protestant white people are.

I'm still not rushing out to join up just because they decided to broaden their definition of 'Real American'.

[The Romulan Republic]

There's always going to be a difference when racism is coming from the group in power.

Another issue is when you try to make a color blind society... you don't really make a color blind society... you still are left with the effects of centuries of oppression and a running lead from the benefactors of it.

I can understand the thought process of some black people getting mad at people getting with white men. I can imagine that they see it as them taking the easy way out and leaving everyone else behind and/or being lured in and attracted to the status and power which is associated with the dominant group.

Of course racism is different (worse) when its done by people with more power.

On the other hand, if we treat a colour-blind society as impossible, it always will be. Maybe we're not at a point where we can have a completely equal society. But that should be the goal.

And as for opposition to racial intermixing, fuck that. People can and should have sex with with members of whatever group they want (provided its consensual of course).

[AniThyng]

And as for opposition to racial intermixing, fuck that. People can and should have sex with with members of whatever group they want (provided its consensual of course).

But what about http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_fetishism?

[The Romulan Republic]

I don't know much about it but it sounds racist.

But its not something we can really prevent short of vast social change. People are turned on by strange and stupid things.

[Purple]

I don't know much about it but it sounds racist.

I am not really sure we can just chalk it up to racism. I am no biologist or anything. But in my uneducated opinion there is probably something to be said about procreating with someone whose genetics are so diverse that their phenotype is screaming at you just how far removed they are.