...generally gained many more definitions. Regardless of this though, terrorism is one of the world’s greatest challenges in the 21st century. The United Nations Secretary General described terrorism in 2004 as any act intended to cause serious harm or death to civilians with the purpose of compelling a government or an international organization or with the objective of intimidating a population to do or refrain from doing an act. Domestic terrorism is a form of terrorism normally used to advance certain social or political interests of a group or section of the society. This form of terrorism has been occurring for a long time and it has been argued by some authorities that domestic terrorism acts were present long before the acts were legally defined (Hess & Orthmann, 2009). In the United States, domestic terrorism is a weighty matter with many terrorist groups being active all around the nation. One such group labeled as a domestic terrorist organization is the Ku Klux Klan, a right-wing white supremacist organization classified as terrorist in the US. Often abbreviated as the KKK and also known informally as The Klan, this far-right organization has advocated for extremist reactionary notions such as white nationalism and supremacy coupled with calls for anti-immigration and anti-communism expressed through history by acts of terrorism. The group has been in existence since the 19th century and is currently manifested in several splinter chapters and is also categorized...
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...the United States continues the war on terrorism, except this war isn’t abroad, but here at home. Armed with the latest technology, intelligence, manpower, and unrelenting intestinal fortitude, the most powerful nation in the world, continues to do what they can to eliminate terrorism (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2011). Terrorism is the use of violence to instill fear in a person or a group of people for ideological, religious or political reasons. Terrorist usually target public places or public officials. Their targets are something or someone who would get the attention of the people so that it could strike fear into the masses of people. Some of the public entities could be famous people, government buildings or monuments, or military members. This type of military tactics is known as guerrilla warfare strategy. Many experts agree that one person’s terrorist is another person’s freedom fighter. Experts also agree that random violence against civilians (non-combatants) is the type of actions taken by terrorists for achieving a political goal, on a scale smaller than full scale warfare. Political terrorism can be used by different groups as an alternative way to carry out acts of war. This is often carried out by the little man or group that normally feels powerless ("Increased Risk?” 2010) Random bombing, shootings and/or disappearance – and the panic and fear they provoke – put pressure on the government, proving the government is unable to protect its populations...
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...television channel. Dennis Mahon and Allan Moran, both of the KKK, asked to be broadcasted on air in 1987, and the whole situation led to a major problem. The KKK is known for its killings, prejudice, and cross burnings, and they wanted to be shown on television to further spread their message. The First Amendment states the right to the freedom of speech, but many of the community members had a problem with the whole situation. People with race relations, local leaders, and members of the cable company did not want to grant the KKK the right to appear on air. Black ministers and important politicians were not happy with the KKK's request to voice their opinions. The KKK complied with all of the rules that were presented by the cable company, even when they were told to create a locally produced show and receive training in video production. They happily obeyed the regulations and didn't cause additional problems to what they were soon to face. The cable company studio was located in a neighborhood that was 95% black, and violence was a major concern for the cable company. Many of those people threatened to drop their cable subscriptions if the KKK were given their airtime. One of the greatest oppositions to the KKK was Reverend Emanuel Cleaver, a pastor of the Saint James-Paseo United Methodist Church and a member of the Kansas City Council. Reverend Cleaver was a notable man and was also one the victims of a KKK cross burning on his property. The...
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...which is often referred to and abbreviated as “KKK,” originated in the South during the 1860’s. It later died out in 1870, and was re-established in in the early 1900’s. “A new version of the Ku Klux Klan arose during the early 1920s. Throughout this time period, immigration, fear of radicalism, and a revolution in morals and manners fanned anxiety in large parts of the country. Roman Catholics, Jews, African Americans, and foreigners were only the most obvious targets of the Klan's fear mongering. Bootleggers and divorcees were also targets (Digital History).” At first the main objective of white supremacy organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan, the White Brotherhood, the Men of Justice, the Constitutional Union Guards and the Knights of the White Camelia was to stop black people from voting. After white governments had been established in the South the Ku Klux Klan continued to undermine the power of blacks. Successful black businessmen were attacked and any attempt to form black protection groups such as trade unions was quickly dealt with. In 1920, two Atlanta publicists, Edward Clarke, a former Atlanta journalist, and Bessie Tyler, a former madam, took over an organization that had formed to promote World War I fund drives. At that time, the organization had 3,000 members. In three years they built it into the Southern Publicity Association, a national organization with three million members. With the growth of the organization, they were able to control parts of the government...
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...accept freedmen into society. Reconstruction was taking place. Thesis: The South ended Reconstruction because of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), the extreme lengths they went to, and the rest of the South just letting it happen. After the Civil War, the United States of America was in desperate need of a reunion of the states. The South was in a bad condition after 4 years of fighting, more than a million casualties, and $337 million spent. It was imperative that some control was established so the Nation could be preserved. This is where Reconstruction came in. It was founded on the idea that “the...
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...In the wake of the horrendous terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States Congress, under pressure from U.S. citizens to do more to protect the country from further attack, passed the Patriot Act on October 26, 2001. In effect, the act changed many U.S. laws concerning the legal authority of law enforcement entities and the lengths to which those entities could go to investigate potential terrorist activities. Another result of the act was to expand the definition of terrorism to include acts of domestic terrorism and or extremism. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) report “The Domestic Terrorist Threat: Background and Issues for Congress, dated May 15, 2012, states that in “statutory terms, a domestic terrorist engages in terrorist activity that occurs in the homeland.” This definition appears quite broad; to add context, the CRS report further states that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) not only views domestic terrorism solely as an act carried out on U.S. soil, but acts that are carried out by groups or persons that “lack foreign direction.” Unlike the U.S. State Department’s public list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations, “The federal government does not generate an official and public list of domestic terrorist organizations or individuals.” As explained by the CRS report, the creation of such a list could subject the federal government to lawsuits from groups and individuals claiming infringement of their civil rights. The lack...
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...to the Dark Ages of Europe in terms of holding on to outdated beliefs and superstitions. However, Jim Crow laws were not the only danger people of color faced. Radical terrorists groups such as the KKK, terrorized black communities going so far as to systematically murder black politicians and leaders. Though in the beginning the Ku Klux Klan was not a terrorist group, but rather a secret society it quickly became a terrorist organization bent on killing blacks for any reason. A black person could be killed for any reason be it walking down the “wrong” street, being sweet on a white girl, talking back to a white man, or even just for being black. From the time of its creation to the end of Reconstruction the Ku Klux Klan wrought terror over the south. The Klan targeted symbols of black autonomy, such as schools and churches, they also targeted white republicans who were ridiculed as scalawags and carpetbaggers. In 1871 the Klan attacked a Union jail and lynched eight african american prisoners. They showed no mercy to anyone of african descent. Though the Klan had seemingly disappeared after the turn of the century, many had a romanticized view of the horrible deeds they had committed. In !915, white protestants organized a Klan meeting in Atlanta, Georgia and successfully revived the Klan by the 1920s the KKK had gathered over 4 million members nationwide and had an established chapter in every southern state. The revived Klan not only harassed blacks, but persecuted Roman Catholics...
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...The KKK or Ku Klux Klan is named of three movements, the first, second, and third Klan, all during three different time periods. Throughout these time periods the KKK rose and fell, to emerge again in a new time period. The first Klan was founded by six confederate veterans from Pulaski, Tennessee in 1865. It lasted from 1865- the 1870s before dying down, then reemerging in the early 1900s. During this time the Ku Klux Klan members made their own costumes, which comprised of a white robe, mask and hat, and was intentioned to not only hide their identities, but also to be harrowing. The costumes also added terror to their night time attacks, which is when they mainly attacked. Most Klans operated in small towns and bucolic areas. The KKK committed...
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...KKK “Ku Klux Klan” [pic] Ex-Confederate soldiers established the Ku Klux Klan in Pulaski, Tennessee, in 1866. The Klan extended into almost every southern state by 1870. They developed the first two words of their name from the Greek word kyklos, meaning circle and took the third as a variant of the word clan. The Klan soon turned to intimidating newly freed African Americans. Riding at night the Klan terrorized and sometimes murdered those it opposed. Members adopted a hooded white costume and the white costume intended to represent the ghosts of the Confederate. The costume was used to avoid identification and to frighten victims during nighttime raids. Its members waged an underground campaign of intimidation and violence directed at white and black Republican leaders. Though Congress passed legislation designed to curb Klan terrorism, the organization saw its primary goal. It was the reestablishment of white supremacy through Democratic victories in state legislatures across the South in the 1870s. After a period of decline, white Protestant nativist groups revived the Klan in the early 20th century. Burning crosses, staging rallies, parades and marches expressing their hatred for immigrants, Catholics, Jews, blacks and organized labor. The civil rights movement of the 1960s also saw a surge of Ku Klux Klan activity, including bombings of black schools and churches and violence against black and white activists in the South. Shortly after the KKK's formation a man...
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...The KKK, the Nazis, Westboro Church and ISIS were all awful hate groups who used religion and racial or sexual prejudice to defend their actions. “Prominent religions worldwide preach many similar ideals, some of which include exhibiting kindness to others and living a peaceful life. Although these religions have vastly different teachings, they generally urge followers to be good and fair to one another. However, religious extremist groups claiming to adhere to certain religious ideals often distort the teachings of their faith in order to justify violent acts (Marisa Marstek).” The KKK is a racist group for segregation and black rights. The Nazis were during Hitler’s Germany, they tried to eliminate all Jewish people in the world by sending...
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...defiance of the Republican-led federal government. The most violent organization to rise, during this time, was the Ku Klux Klan, otherwise known as the KKK. Formed in Pulaski, Tennessee ; the Ku Klux Klan was originally a social club, but then grew violent as they felt violated by the federal government. The Ku Klux Klan grew into a hooded terrorist organization and included all classes of society. At the Klan’s peak, the membership exceeded four million people . Abram Colby, a former slave, reported being beaten violently by a lawyer, a doctor, and several farmers...
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...The Ku Klux Klan or KKK dates back as far as December 1885, where bored confederate veteran soldiers developed a social club in Pulaski, Tennessee. They resembled a fraternity, a wore white sheets as they ran around the community, and even hazed new members into the ranks. However, if they didn't spread out into other communities, one of...
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...Ku Klux Klan What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name Ku Klux Klan? Probably you think of mean, heartless, white people that wore white robes with a cone on top that murdered thousands of African Americans. Most of this assumption is correct but the Klan not only attacked African Americans they also attacked Jews, Roman Catholics and immigrants just to name a few. I believe that the Ku Klux Klan is one of the most feared organizations that have ever existed in American history, yet people know so little about them. Hopefully by giving you background information and the some history, you will develop a better understanding of the Klan. When the Ku Klux Klan began they were not always known as the Ku Klux Klan. When they were founded in 1866 they created their name off of the Greek word “kyklos”, meaning circle. They called themselves the KuKlux clan which meant circle of brother. They later changed their name again, to the name they still use to Ku Klux Klan. The Ku Klux Klan was America’s first real terrorist group following the Civil War. The Ku Klux Klan had three very distinct movements the first from 1865-1875, the second 1915-1944, and the third movement occurred during the 1950’s and 60’s. The first movement by the Klan began around 1866 in Pulaski, Tennessee, what sparked this first movement was the rise in African American rights and they wanted to reestablish white supremacy. The Klan was founded by Confederate Civil War veterans General Nathan...
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...areas such as schools, restaurants and public transit. These laws were made to show black people where they ranked in terms of whites. One sign said. “No Dogs, Blacks, Mexicans” (Pilgrim, D., 2012). Some of these laws included where to sit on public transit, where they can drink water and how they are to treat white people when they cross their path. Many Christian ministers and theologians taught that whites were the Chosen people, blacks were cursed to be servants, and God supported racial segregation (2012). The Ku Klux Klan started as a group of ex-Confederate soldiers who opposed the Reconstruction policies based on the freed slaves. The group started in Pulaski, Tennessee, and there main purpose was to establish white supremacy. The KKK created fear by wearing strange clothing,...
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...right to vote and be protected by law. Majority of the people thought it was beneficial to them since the black people were able to vote and be equal to the whites. Furthermore, “Charitable organizations and individuals - especially Northerners - worked to improve literacy and education for African Americans’ (Document 1). With the help of charitable organizations and federal legislations, African Americans received a lot more opportunities. For example, opportunities like going to school, being treated in hospitals or working on railroads. They were given the ability to live on their own, for instance, some of the poor were sharecroppers. Even though living as a sharecropper couldn’t earn them much of a living but at least it kept them alive. As well as living in a house of their own, these were things that they never actually had. Altogether, African Americans lived in better conditions after the Civil War. Regardless of this, there were others that believed that the Reconstruction era didn’t help African. The Reconstruction era didn’t go so smoothly, especially since there were many challenges to surpass such as the KKK. The KKK, which is also called “the Ku Klux Klan, emerged to maintain white supremacy and intimidate black voters or any whites who supported them” (Document 2 ). This terrorist group could consist of people in everyday society and they would hang, was standing in front of a voting booth to prevent them from voting or use other methods to scare the blacks. In addition...
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