By KANIKA J.G. GEORGES / Journal Staff Writer
Members of the World Knights Of The Ku Klux Klan enter the grounds of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park during a panel discussion on breaking color barriers in America at the Centennial Commemoration of the Niagara Movement Saturday at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in Harpers Ferry. (Journal photo by Jason Turner)
HARPERS FERRY — The audience barely missed a beat when about 20 members of the Ku Klux Klan showed up at the beginning of a Niagara Movement Centennial Commemoration event in Harpers Ferry Saturday afternoon.
Children, who were among the nearly 2,000 people of various races waiting to hear a panel discussion on racial issues, gawked in confusion. Most apparently knew little about the group.
“Could they bomb us here, mama,” asked one boy.
“Yes,” was the answer, and the boy looked mystified.
The adults, who remembered when the KKK wore white robes and hoods and terrorized blacks and others, seemed to stiffen as the black-clad group took their seats to the rear of the tent. Klan members were wearing an alternate uniform Saturday, consisting primarily of black clothing and Nazi regalia.
Another boy sized up the black jeans, T-shirts and red emblems the men, women and teenagers wore.
“Aw, we could take them, couldn’t we,” he said.
The crowd laughed and turned their attention to the stage as six black barrier breakers shared stories of overcoming racism and offered words of advice.
One of the Klansmen calling himself Tattoo, who said he was the Grand Dragon of the West Virginia branch of the World Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, said the group intended to be a peaceful presence during the panel discussion.
“We are just here to observe,” the Harpers Ferry resident said. “As long as we are not attacked. If we are attacked, we will defend ourselves. We just brought a handful of us today. That’s why we’re the invisible empire. We don’t want them to know how many we are.”
Panelists included the Rev. Walter Fauntroy, the first District of Columbia delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives; Monte Irvin, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame who was among the earliest black players in Major League Baseball; Eddie Henderson, the first black to compete in the National Figure Skating Championships; Cheryl White, the first black female professional jockey and Joseph Wilder, a musician who helped to integrate Broadway.
The KKK members left the panel discussion after Juanita Abernathy, widow of civil rights leader the Rev. Ralph David Abernathy, spoke to the audience about the importance of education and responsible voting.
Their exit, under escort by several federal police officers as was their entrance, went unnoticed by most of the audience.
“This is America, and this is an open event for this town, this state and the nation at large,” said the Rev. Otis C. James of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Charles Town following the panel discussion.” They have a right to come here as long as they are peaceful and non-destructive. I hope — I pray — that they leave having learned something from this discussion.”
But truthfully,” he added. “I don’t think they learned anything from what took place today, or enlarged their insight on humanity.”
— Staff writer Kanika Georges can be reached at 725-6581, or at kgeorges@journal-news.net
Well, I just noticed that the picture didn't post, but it was a great shot of the dummies in black uniforms, no hoods or gowns, holding up there hands in a Hitler style salute. Wonderful
