The KKK: From Greensboro to New York City

• Published in: The Michigan chronicle Vol. 63; no. 9
• Main Author: Marable, Manning
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Detroit, Mich Real Times, Inc 23.11.1999
• Subjects: Courts; Discrimination; History; Law; Organizations; Racism

History never repeats itself the same way twice. Yet there were some parallels between Greensboro in 1979 and New York City in 1999. While the NYPD protected the Klansmen, 14 anti-Klan demonstrators were arrested by police. Many observed that it was more than curious that over 3,000 police officers had been ordered into Harlem to intimidate and disrupt the 1998 Million Youth March, but only 200 cops were detailed to the Klan demonstration, primarily to insure the safety and welfare of the Klansmen. Instead of Klan executions, we have witnessed the assault and murder of unarmed Black people by the New York Police Street Crimes Unit. There is a clear connection between what happened in Greensboro with the murder of Amadou Diallo. It is not surprising that a number of counter-demonstrators in New York shouted, "Cops and Klan go hand in hand." These five anti-racist organizers and 10 other activists who were seriously wounded had been participating in an anti-Klan public march and demonstration, held in a largely African American community. In broad daylight, a car caravan containing about 75 Klansmen and Nazis descended on the public rally. For about 90 seconds, they opened fire on the unarmed demonstrators, and then drove from the scene of the crime. Local police had been given ample warning about the threat of Klan violence, but had chosen to do nothing to protect the demonstrators. There was also direct evidence indicating that law enforcement officials gave the Klan the exact location and route of the march several days prior to their attack.