D8, KKK, Drew Pearson Films, Washington Merry-Go-Round. Content warning: language

Duration: 12:01 1975 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

The video features an interview with a self-proclaimed bona fide member of the Ku Klux Klan, referred to as Mr. K, who discusses the resurgence and operational structure of the organization in Georgia. The host notes that while he previously faced hostility from the group after being accused of having a spy within their ranks, he is now speaking with a young, vigorous member who confirms the clan's membership has dipped but recently strengthened. Mr. K describes the current recruits as ordinary Christian gentile Americans from various walks of life, including policemen, firemen, teachers, and mechanics, though he notes that police departments in Atlanta are largely absent due to fear of Mayor William B. Hartzfield, whom the Klan views negatively despite his actual record. The discussion details the internal hierarchy and rituals of the group, identifying key figures such as Mr. Eel Edwards as the Imperial Wizard and Reverend EB Slay as the state leader known as the Cowl. The interviewee explains that meetings involve rallies for membership recruitment, prayers led by ministers, and ceremonies centered around an altar containing a Bible open to Romans chapter 12, which serves as the doctrinal foundation. He also addresses the group's shift toward armed resistance following Supreme Court rulings on segregation, describing the establishment of a "Smith and Wesson line" to replace the Mason-Dixon line. The speaker confirms that they acquire firearms from dealers in Alabama and Atlanta and plans to arm members rapidly, with some individuals joining the National Rifleman's Association individually rather than as an official organizational affiliation. Cross-burning is presented as a frequent weekly activity, often conducted by a select group of experts accompanied by large numbers of members to outnumber local police forces. While cities outside of Atlanta and Savannah cooperate by providing police escorts for processions, the host points out that this protection is not extended within Atlanta itself. The conversation also touches on the group's relationship with media, specifically mentioning Ralph McGill, editor of the Atlanta Constitution, whom the Klan opposes because he suppresses their news; the speaker suggests that if they were to make an example of such individuals through drastic measures like placing dynamite in cars or shooting them, future warnings would become unnecessary. The interview concludes with Mr. K expressing his ambition to rise to a leading officer position within the organization and maintaining that the Klan will remain in Georgia as long as white supremacy is needed. The host reiterates that the information provided has been verified over two weeks by both himself and his staff, ensuring the identity of Mr. K remains anonymous to protect him from potential retribution if he returns to Georgia. The segment ends with a disclaimer stating that the views expressed do not represent those of the station or the sponsor, followed by an announcement for a future interview with Congressman William Dawson, shifting the focus away from the Klan's activities.

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Hello everybody. Today I'm going to interview a very unique person, a bonafidey member of the Kulux Clan. Now you may recall that I've had a little experience with the clan down in Georgia. I was denounced all over that state for supposedly having a spy inside their clavers. And I confess I did have some pretty good information from those clever clavers. And at one time they challenged me to come down and broadcast from Stone Mountain. After that I accepted the challenge. They sort of reiged and I ended up on the state capital in the steps of Atlanta, Georgia. It wasn't too happy an experience, but at least I finished the broadcast. Now the man I'm going to interview is not the old Pearson spy. He's young and vigorous member of the clan. He's told me how the clan dipped to membership and has come back strong recently. And obviously, I can't give you his name. He'd never live if he got back to Georgia if I identified him. I'm going to call him Mr. K. I haven't uh asked him why he joined the clan. I have asked him to tell about how the clan works because of its importance. Today, I've checked very carefully on him over a period of two weeks. My staff has also checked. We know that he is bonafidey. There's no fake about this. If he mentions anyone's name unfairly, I'll be glad to give those people a chance to reply later. And so, in just a minute, I'll be back and let you meet a full-fledged member of the Ku Klux Clan. Now, Mr. K, I don't want you to tell me the exact city, but where generally do you live? >> I come from a city in northern part of Georgia. Now tell me what kind of people join the clan these days since its revival. >> Just ordinary Christian gentile Americans. >> Well, what walks of life? Uh >> oh. Policemen, firemen, school teachers, mechanics, average citizens. >> Policemen. Are there many policemen in the clan? >> Uh in the cities outside of Atlanta? Yes. Some whole police departments belong. Have you ever uh you you know of a fact that they are policemen? >> Yes, I have uh taken application and uh membership fee from quite a few. >> What about Atlanta? Why aren't there policemen in Atlanta? >> Well, they're afraid of their jobs. They have William B. Hartzfield as mayor there. And he's considered by the clan as a [ __ ] lover. >> Mayor Hartzfield. I happen to know him. I remember when I went down there some years ago, I thought he was a pretty good mayor. >> Well, the clan regards him as a [ __ ] lover. of uh negroes are entitled to protection, aren't they? And they're American citizens. >> Yes. But since those nine buzzets on the United States Supreme Court has abolished segregation and the Mason Dixon line, we've had to establish a Smith and Wesson line. >> Smith and Wesson line? What do you mean? >> It's a popular brand of firearm made by Yankees. >> And you're resorting to firearms in the clan now. >> We're arming as fast as we can. >> Where do they get their arms? Um, they have a dealer in Alexander City, V, Alabama, and one in Atlanta, Georgia. One in Alexander City, Alabama is named Bun. He's been in the gun business there 30 years. We have a dealer in Atlanta named House. It's been in as long. >> What do you do at the clan meetings? What's the procedure? >> Well, at the clan meetings we're holding now, they are rallies for membership. When uh a clan meeting is open with a prayer, we have quite a few ministers. We form a square of clans people around the altar. The altar contains a glass of water for purity. It contains a Bible that's opened at the 12th chapter of Romans on which the clan doctrine is founded on. And uh we have a sword for justice that holds that place in the Bible. >> Why the 12th chapter of Romans? Well, the exact meaning escapes me personally, but to the ministers and preachers that are in the clan, that is the doctrine of the clan. >> Are these preachers in good standing? >> Yes, we have services in their churches in robes. >> Really? Uh, what kind of preachers? >> Uh, Baptist preachers. Um, this Sunday, I expect to attend a church service where we will all be robed. Uh, I don't like to doubt your word, but uh, I have information, I'm pretty sure of it, that the heads of the church just don't approve of the clan. However, u, what kind of speeches do they give? >> Well, when they speak about you, they remember your last visit to Atlanta. >> Well, they do. Do they speak about me very often? >> Yes. And, uh, I imagine they'd like another crack at you. >> They would. Well, maybe we'll give them one sometime. Uh, what else do they talk about? Well, the Supreme Court segregation and memberships that we need to control the South. >> Have you uh you you indicated you solicited quite a few memberships? >> Yes, I signed them up left and right at a meeting. >> Do you get a commission on it? >> No, but uh if I had more time to devote to it, it'd be a very profitable undertaking. >> Well, now who's the Imperial Wizard? >> Uh Mr. Eel Edwards. He's an employee of the Fisher Bodyworks in Atlanta, Georgia. And he is the imperial wizard of the US clans incorporated of the United States. >> And uh you have Cleals and uh Grand Titans. Who's the Cleal down there? >> Uh Reverend EB Slay, a Baptist minister, 71 years old, is the Cleal for the state of Georgia. Under Reverend EB Slay, we have Royal Bill Davidson of Mon, Georgia. He's an Imperial clockard of the Invisible Empire. >> Clockard? What does a clockard mean? >> It means that he's in charge of about 15 claim county, Georgia. >> This says US Clans Incorporated, Knights of the Ku Klux Clan, Post Office Box 3073 in Mon, Georgia. Lee Wild Bill Davidson, Imperial Clockard of the Invisible Empire, yesterday, today, and forever. What does that mean? Yesterday, today, and forever. >> Well, we've had the clan in the past. We have it today, and it will remain in Georgia as long as if we need to maintain white supremacy. >> Now, there's a man down in Atlanta when I was with the clan. Um, don't misunderstand me. I was not a member, but there was a fellow named Dr. Samuel Green who was grand dragon. >> Yes, Dr. Samuel Green was the grand dragon of the United States clans. He's deceased now and his son Samuel Green Jr., an attorney, is very active in the clan. Now, what happens? Uh, have you burned any crosses yourself? >> I'm one of the active cross burners. >> Do do you burn cross crosses frequently? >> Oh, once a week. >> Once a week. Do many people volunteer? >> Well, uh, there were a select few that are experts at it. Now, what happens when you do this? Do you have a motor clay that goes out to a cross burning? >> No. Uh, it's usually a group of a 100 picked to go to a cross burning. So, we'd be sure to outnumber the police. >> Well, now uh a motor clay when you have a meeting, do you what happens then when you go to Stone Mountain? Do you have police escorts? >> Uh, not in Atlanta, but every other city beside Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia cooperates fully in providing a police escort from city to city. They meet us at one city and leave us at another. >> In other words, when you have a cross burning, you're a little bit worried about the police. But when you're just having a regular meeting where the police sometimes escort you. >> That's right. >> Now, how do you get along with the Atlanta newspapers? >> Well, Ralph McIll, the editor of the Constitution there, is opposed to the clan as he's a [ __ ] of it. >> Ralph McIll? >> Yes. Now, his father was a fine clansman, but he opposes us by trying to keep all news of the clan out of the paper. Well, I don't know anything about his father, but I do know Ralph Miguel, and he's one of the finest editors in the country. >> Well, you can sue the [ __ ] lover in Atlanta by the clan. >> What uh how do you get along with him? >> We ignore him and he ignores us. >> I see. You haven't uh tried to do anything about his situation. >> No, but he is a candidate with Mayor William B. Hartzfield if we had to make an example of somebody. >> How do you mean make an example? Well, if uh one of them was made an example of by putting a little dynamite in their car or maybe shooting them, well, the next time we wouldn't have to go to such drastic measures, a word of warning, it'd be sufficient. >> I may warn Ralph McIll about that, but uh I don't think it'll phase him. He's a he's a pretty courageous guy. And I want to talk to you some more, but first, we'd like to have a word from our announcer. Now, Mr. K, people have sent me some of this clan literature in the mail. Uh, tell me, do you have a lot of this literature? We're gathering more and more as we go along now that we found a printer and publisher. Gerald LK Smith, the publisher of The Cross and the Flag in Los Angeles. >> He prints all your stuff. Gerald Smith at the present time. >> He's the famous rabble rouser and anti-semite. >> Well, he's a good publisher. >> I see. But now, one thing you said rather concerned me about all these arms. You mean to say the clan is now pretty well armed? >> Not 100%, but we're working rapidly in that direction. >> Are you affiliated with any other organizations? >> No, but the individual members are joining the National Rifleman's Association. >> Not as an organization, but as individuals. >> Yes. >> As Americans. >> Does the National Rifleman's Association know about this? They know that we're joining. >> What do you plan to do with the arms? >> Well, if uh we're forced to, we'll have to use them. >> Well, now you're going back to Georgia. I know. I I hope that you don't get caught, but uh what do you think your future is in the clan? >> Well, I hope to arise to be one of the leading officers. >> Well, let me know how you make out and send me some information, but just make sure that it's accurate. Well, all the information you get from me south of the Smith and Lo western line will be made by me. >> Be made by you south of the Smith and Lo. >> All right, we'll be back in just a minute. The views expressed on this program do not represent those of the station, the sponsor, nor in this case my own. Now, in order to discuss some of the issues that have been raised a few minutes ago, next week I'm going to interview the leading negro member of the House of Representatives, Congressman William Dawson of Chicago. Heat.