photo: The KKK marches down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. in 1926.
Contributing to criminal chaos of the 1920s was the sudden rise of the Ku Klux Klan, or KKK. In the early 1920s, membership in the KKK quickly escalated to six figures under the leadership of “Colonel” William Simmons and advertising guru Edward Young Clarke. Robed members of the KKK marching down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., with American flags and the U.S. Capitol in the background.
By the middle of the decade, the group boasted several million members. The crimes committed in the name of its bigoted beliefs were despicable—hangings, floggings, mutilations, tarring and featherings, kidnappings, brandings by acid, along with a new intimidation tactic, cross-burnings. The Klan had become a clear threat to public safety and order.
Meh - "I hate illinois nazis" one of my favorite lines from the OG blues brothers, spoken while driving through a nazi march. You can hate them, as I do, but they have a right to demonstrate as much as you do - it does not equate with being unsafe. Yes, in 1926 the klan rallied. With the protections of our rights afforded by this country, they were allowed to do so. Do we all live under a Wolfenstein-esque KKK/Nazi regime now? No. All ideas can be expressed, you hope for the 'right' ones to stick.
You must not be a minority or have much empathy if you don't understand how a mass demonstration of the klan could make people feel unsafe
Hiding away the fascists doesn't make anyone safer. It just makes opposition to fascism seem like a less-pressing issue.
The Westboro Baptist Church's "God hates fags" campaign brought out millions of rainbow flags, and earned them no actual support.
The lesson to be learned from the Illinois Nazis, the KKK, the Westboro Baptists is not the paradox of intolerance. The proper lesson is "Never interrupt your enemy while he is making a mistake".
Sure. I can understand what you are saying...when talking about a walk/protest/demonstration.
But I was raised to intervene when I see people needing help.
And this fascists will not stop at walk. Or a protest. Or a demonstration.
THEY WILL DO IT.
HAVE WE FUCKING LEARNED NOTHING!?
I hope you are never in need of help.
I hope no one sees you geting beaten or hanged and thinks "don't interrupt while your enemy is making a mistake."