As Ferguson, Mo., Waits on Word From Grand Jury, So Does the Klan
If you ask the Ku Klux Klan, a gut wrenching racially charged American tragedy should never go to waste.
Since the beginning, in early August, at least two factions of the hooded Klansmen have repeatedly tried to exploit and inject themselves into the middle of the sad saga of the death of Michael Brown, the black, unarmed teenager who was shot and killed in Ferguson, Mo., by police officer Darren Wilson.
Since then, the Klan has raised money for Wilson, who is white, joined rallies for him with other supporters and vowed to come to the Ferguson area to protect “white businesses” with guns.
And most recently, as Ferguson and the rest of the country anxiously await the decision by a grand jury on whether Wilson will be charged in the case - a decision expected to be announced any day now - the Traditionalist American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan last week threatened to use “lethal force” against protesters in the St. Louis suburb.
“We will not sit by and allow you to harm our families, communities, property nor disrupt our daily lives,” the group declared in a flier.
For months now, protesters - black and white - have filled the streets of Ferguson, demanding Wilson be arrested and charged with the 18-year-old’s slaying. While most of the protests have been nonviolent, some have included looting, clashes with heavily armed police and dozens of arrests.
That fact didn’t stop the Klan from issuing its threats, veiled in the talk of self-defense.
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