Ku Klux Klan Rally

ORCES

OF DIFFERENCE

By Mike Nichols

Faces of different color and sexual orientation challenge the Klan and each other

N THE STEPS OF THE Indiana Statehouse, people gathered.While some came to support, others came to protest the white supremacists with shouts and jeers. The rest witnessed the event as if it were a spectator sport. People from all walks of life came to hear Thomas Robb, the national director of the Ku Klux Klan, speak.

Amid a sea of chaos filled with homosexuals, heterosexuals, Jews, African Americans and whites, the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, gathered to recruit and mobilize supporters at the Statehouse on Oct. 16.

Looking unlike their robed predecessors, Robb stood before the crowd in a dark suit, while other Klansmen donned white shirts, black pants and baseball hats emblazoned with the Klan's cross-shaped insignia , carrying shields with the same insignia. "I am not here to promote hatred against anyone," Robb said in an effort to expand Midwest support.

But Robb spoke to the angry protestors in his speech, after they had nearly made his speech inaudible. "To be hated by you, ladies and gentlemen, I say thank you," Robb said to the protestors.

He then said to his supporters, "They are the same element that doesn't understand free speech."

He said the protestors came to the rally to shout ignorance, hatred and their own prejudice in what he called a sea of destruction. "To those of you who say `hey, hey, hey, bye-bye' ... I say, `bye-bye, you won't be here next year, bye-bye,' Robb said in reference to AIDS patients, against the roar of Gay Alliance and other gay advocates.

Unbothered by their disapproval, Robb spoke on about his mission. "If I could lift the shroud of ignorance and the light could be shown to their eyes that penetrates to the mind, that sinks down to the depths of the heart and to the soul and to touch their very spirit ... then I will know [we] are still alive," Robb said as he reached out for supporters.

The young white men and women resounded with neo-Nazi chants and raised arms as white supremacy soared back through the air to the delight of their leader. But not all KKK supporters were chanting this sentiment. "It's really sad that it's come to this," said Aaron McCord, a 23-year-old factory worker from Alexandria, Ind. "It's going more towards neo-Nazi." McCord believes the KKK is weakening and the smaller factions that support white supremac in violent ways are to blame. "I believe in the preserva tion of the white race, I don' believe in going out and hanging them ... the blacks will take care of themselves, to quote Charles Manson," McCord said. He believes th Klan needs more white colla members to strengthen the organization. But McCord assures that his hate for non-

vhite, non-heterosexual )eople is real. "Bigot's not a bad word; 'm a racist, I love my race ,efore I love any other race, he reason I don't like Jewish ieople is because I'm a evout Christian and anyone hat doesn't accept Jesus :hrist I have a problem iith," he said. McCord is the first in three generations of is family to be an active "Jansman. Others on the pposing side of the Klan 'so considered family eritage as their motives for being present. "It will he something we can tell our kids," Corky Longwood said. "The Klan does have the right to voice their opinions, but we can go over and mess with them if we want to," he said.

Freshman Michael Adkins said, "We're just here to observe the hype, if they want to be racist they should just keep it to themselves." Another protestor wasn't as gentle in her beliefs of the First Amendment. "I think the whole free speech argument is B.S.," said Eva Shiffrin, Bloomington resident. "I think that free speech in our country only applies to certain people ... and I'm not going to follow anything that only guarantees the free speech of certain individuals who are not me and who are racist," Shiffrin said. Other students voiced their opinions.

A student group from the University of Michigan, Students Out to Smash the Fascists, marched down West continued

Santiago Flores JUNIORS Junzo Chino and Hazuki Carol Chino were among those who traveled to Indianapolis to voice their opposition to the Klan. The Klan demonstrated at the Statehouse in an effort to gain support throughout the Midwest.

Street shouting "Black and white unite to fight" and "anti-sematic, anti-gay, racist scum-go away!" Student groups from IU also attended. Present were members of IUSA, OUT, International Society Association and Anarchists Society of IU. "I was satisfied with the show," said Michael Burton, IUSA advocacy director, "but the police officers were not exactly helpful ... while helping some people, they also had a tendency to put others at risk."

That risk led to an injury to Burton after he was pushed into a barricade by the force of the crowd. The same hostility that incited Burton's incident also encouraged hatred, apparent through signs and voices. "Save our land — join the Klan" read one sign. A supporter yelled, "Watch your butts boys, the fags are here."

To these statements, Gay Alliance taunted, "Two, four, six, eight — how do we know the Klan is straight?" Other forms of free speech, such as the burning of a confederate flag, ignited violence in the crowd. But Indiana State Police First Sergeant Patrick McQuary worked to maintain the peace. "Especially when there's a racial conflict, it takes very little to incite a crowd ... but hopefully by working together we can maintain responsible action," said McQuary. Approximately 1,000 people gathered under their control, 75 percent of whom were not from Indianapolis, police estimated.

With two helicopters hovering overhead, SWAT team troopers watched closely atop the nearby Westin Hotel and the state buildings surrounding the Statehouse. Senior Alex Stafford felt safe in the riotous atmosphere. "I think there's a lot of aggressiveness here ... but it's very controlled. I'm a big believer of free speech, so just let [the Klan] go," he said. "Our main concern is

Robb Hill

CHILDREN, like this daughter of a white supremacist, were also present at the KKK rally. The younger generations witnessed the violence and hatred of both sides through signs and verbal attacks.

KKK opponents protest Klan National Director Thomas Robb's speech in front of the steps of the Statehouse on Oct. 16. Student groups such as OUT counter-demonstrated the Klan's supremacist message.

;afery," said Indiana State ?dice Sergeant John Mull. kt a press conference held arlier in the day, he said arrangements were made for :he safety of the Klan as well. "The role of the Indiana ;tate Police Department is to :ontrol the rally, not to assist he rally," Mull said. Before he Klan appeared at the statehouse, the public went hrough security checks and rietal detectors from behind i West Street barricade.

Many Klan supporters ind protestors alike mocked the protection. "The cops and the Klan are on the same side," one protestor shouted. "[The police] are the only reason you're still alive," said another protestor. Robb also wasn't appreciative of the protection as he mocked the power of the police and the office of the governor. "By the hand of providence given by Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Fathers, the First Amendment struck down the power of the office of governor of Indiana," Robb said in regard to the previous day's ruling that attempts by the City of Indianapolis to move the Klan's rally for safety precautions was insufficient governmental interest.

Robb concluded his speech by stating a final objective of the Klan. "Political power is the goal of the Ku Klux Klan. It only takes one spark to bring about change in government," Robb said. Before leaving the steps of the Statehouse, the leader welcomed the public to a cross lighting in Zenus, Ind.

Rain began to fall as the Metro Gang Task force drove out the masses of protestors and supporters while more fights occurred. An African American beat a photographer and smashed her camera. She was one of the seven recorded injuries of the day. Seven arrests were also made. "I don't think the black people let the white people protest properly," Greg Beeson of Beech Grove said. "Love the sinner, hate the sin, I guess."

Santiago Fiore: