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Remembering the 5th Era
By Pastor Thomas Robb, national
director, The Knights
1999
The Fifth
Era of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan was an exciting period. It captured all
of the enthusiasm of the Fourth Era, which began in the early 70’s with the
wide spread media frenzy that surrounded David Duke. The Fifth Era was also a
time of high profile. Numerous rallies were held to attract the attention of the
media and thus toss the Klan into the living rooms and at the dinner tables of
the American people.
Much could be
written about the pros and cons of the media attention. Some may argue that the
media used us, yet it can also be shown that we used the media to bring issues
before the people. And this reminds me that the Bible says God’s word will not
be returned void. Our voice will be heard. Many people became awakened as a
result of the media attention we created.
The Knights’
wrote the book on rallies. We have it down to a science. On many occasions we
held two or more in a single day and on several occasions we held six or eight
rallies on a single day. Organizers would come to the national office and
receive training on rally organizing, propaganda design and media interaction.
They would then return to their home states and were able to hold rallies on
their own, independently of the national office. As a result, the Knights of the
Ku Klux Klan was able to hold rallies in Colorado, Texas, Ohio, Illinois,
Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Florida and Michigan often on
the same day.
Then something
happened! God sent us the Internet! And whether we liked it or not, we were
instantly thrown into a new era. It came as a surprise, without warning and no
one knew it was coming. It was as if suddenly a pail of cold water was thrown
upon you while you slept.
It took a while
for some to understand it. But by the mid-ninety’s we began to see the great
opportunities that lay ahead. Granted, most did not! Many still do not. Even
today people will join The Knights and expect us to go to their town to hold a
rally. Most, if not all other "Klan" groups are still in 4th and 5th
era thinking. They may have a poorly designed page on the web, but the rallies
remain their priority.
Yes, everyday
thousands of people are turning on computers and getting on the Internet for the
first time. There was a time when the only way we were able to get our message
into the living rooms of America was to have them write for literature by
getting our address off a news clip on the evening news. Incredibly, most 4th
and 5th era groups having rallies still don’t even make use of
address banners. A potential member could see them on the news and still
not know how to contact them. We needed the evening news to get into those
living rooms. And many of you people are a result of that effort. But it cost
thousands of dollars to hold each of these rallies and the results were
sometimes dismal. What our two decades of rallies did do, however, was firmly
fix us as the voice of the movement. The media knows whom to contact for a
racialist opinion.
Today, with our
name firmly established, we are faced with a new reality. With the click of the
computer mouse any high school kid, college student, father, mother, grandparent
or even a grade school child can look us up and read about the Klan and their
White Christian heritage without the filter of the evening news. Rallies served
their purpose and I won’t say they’ll never be utilized again, in a
different way, but not at this time.
I know that I
have organized more rallies than any person living today has and as great as
they were, they simply are not in the same ballpark when compared to the
effectiveness of the Internet. I am aware that some "Klan" groups will
hold a rally occasionally and I will not condemn them or judge them for it. But
it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that with the dawning of the
Internet - everything changed. The paradigm shifted. The 6th era was thrown into
our hands and we jumped quickly to take advantage of it. Ironically, because of
the professionalism of The Knights, our website, Internet TV programs, massive
literature distributions, etc., our organization conducts more interviews and
appears in more news stories than ever before. The media drives the people to
our site where they can get the truth unedited 24 hours a day. We are the most
visited racialist site on the web. God is surely directing this fine association
of Christian men and women.
Unfortunately,
sometimes people who may be completely new to this whole political and racial
arena, still have 4th era and 5th era thinking. We could appease them and
attempt to continue in the same old paradigm or we could take on the
responsibility of leaders and begin the move toward the great possibilities that
are before us. I know that people often want to have a rally so they can
publicly stand in defiance of tyranny. It may feel good to stand on the side of
righteousness when facing a hateful and obnoxious crowd of protesters. But we
must consider the overall mission and not be sidetracked by a feeling. In fact,
it requires more discipline to live a Christian life every day, than to make a
show of it a few weekends a year. That is a challenge we should each take on.
I know that
occasionally people join and want to be immediately placed in contact with other
associates and attend rallies. I realize it is hard sometimes to feel like you
are the lone voice of reason. A rally may fulfill your need for fellowship. But
the real accomplishment comes when we realize we are part of a team - A network
of political activists who will get information and our Internet address into
the hands of the public. Knights whom, like the spokes of a wheel or the rays of
the sun, lead by example. They radiate noble conduct and thoughts wherever they
go, wherever they are – planting seeds of white Christian revival.
Thousands of
pieces of literature into the hands of the American people will get more people
in front of the computer for the complete story of the Ku Klux Klan than rallies
ever could and at a fraction of the cost. I know that I have been attacked and
slandered by a few because we are not currently holding public rallies. If that
is the thinking of someone, I understand. In time they will learn. Those who don’t
understand - what can I say? Sometimes leaders have to make decisions that are
not popular at first.
The 6th era and
the tremendous opportunities which the Internet, and Internet TV offers us is
new to everyone. I appreciate the tremendous support of the great majority of
you people. Some of you catch the vision - and some of you exercise your trust
and your understanding just by having faith. But, whatever the case, let us
focus on the dream of White Christian Revival. Let’s keep focused on the
vision of thousands of white boys and girls with smiling faces reaching out to
you with the joyous words of "thank you" for the future you have
provided them. Together lets make history!
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