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On Saturday October 23, 1999 the Ku Klux Klan attempted to hold a rally in lower Manhattan to the dismay of thousands of outraged protesters. The rally was held to promote their beliefs and history of the KKK.
When the rally began, the ratio of Ku Klux Klan supporters to protesters was 2: 1000. The protesters were so outraged that they yelled "KKK go home" and "You don't belong here" and other expletives. The New York protesters had signs that stated "stop the racism, stop the hate. The protesters had the KKK cornered. During the KKK rally, there were two main incidents that broke out. One of those incidents was a 56 year old well-respected teacher who teaches and respects us from Brooklyn who posed has a KKK supporter. He went up to one of the KKK members and punched him. The man was dragged away by the police. The KKK member refused to go to the hospital to get his bloodied chin checked. The second incident was with a woman who was beaten down by a host of people for supporting the KKK rally. The results of the rally went well, compared to what many thought the out come would be (meaning the violence that could have occurred). During the rally I was able to get a couple of different views about the KKK and the rally. Here are some of the interviews. My first interview was with Conrad Mohamed (the hiphop minister). Harden: Why is the march considered a hate march? Mohamed: Because of their history. The KKK has a history of hate. Harden: What is your purpose of being here today? Mohamed: To say no to hate. Say no to the Ku Klux Klan. To speak up for my deadAncestors who were killed by the KKK. Harden: What was your first reaction when you heard the KKK wanted to hold a rally in Manhattan? Mohamed: I was outraged and upset. This is not Mississippi or Georgia. So I new I had to be here. This is New York City. Harden: If you were the judge, what would your decision have been? Explain. Mohamed: It would have been a tough decision. Yes I would have let them march because of the first amendment but without their masks on. Criminals wear masks. The next three interviews were with a woman and two men; all who would like to remain anonymous. Harden: Why is this march considered a hate march? Woman: I don't consider it a hate march. I consider the KKK to be a hate organization. They're just trying to come out and recruit some members. Harden: What is your purpose of being here today? Woman: To stop the hate. To let everyone know that people need to stick together and stop the hate. The next interview: Harden: What is your purpose of being here today? Man1: Make a statement for everyone that the KKK is not wanted here. Harden: Do you think the KKK has the right to hate non-white people? Man1: They don't have the right but I guess you can dislike whom you want. Harden: Do you think the KKK is really here to over turn the mask law or what? Man1: I don't really know. But it doesn't matter because racism is everywhere. There are judges, cops and all kinds of different people that we see everyday that are [or sympathize with] the KKK. The next interview: Harden: What was your first reaction when you heard the KKK wanted to hold a rally in Manhattan? Man2: It was difficult to believe that this hatred was still going on with the new millennium just around the corner. When is it gonna stop? Harden: What is your purpose of being here today? Man2: To rally against KKK and prejudice. To stop the KKK from coming to NY and growing. People should be together and at peace. Harden: If you were the judge, what would your decision have been? Explain. Man2: With the first amendment I would have had to let them march regardless of what their beliefs are. My last interview was with Reverend Melvin Davis from Dedicated To The Struggle (DTTS). Harden: What is your purpose of being here today? Davis: To make sure that not just anything will be tolerated. Support and show that we totally disagree with the klan holding a rally. Harden: If you were the judge what would your decision have been? Explain. Davis: I would have denied them because of what they stand for. Harden: What was your first reaction when you heard the KKK wanted to hold a rally in Manhattan? Davis: Upset. In conclusion, my opinion is that the rally was a good thing. This is because it showed how worthless the Ku Klux Klan really is. The rally showed that the people of New York might fight amongst each other but we'll be dammed if were gonna' let another group of people try to take us out by overpowering us. By not resulting in violence, the people of NYC actually out smarted the KKK. The KKK is not wanted anywhere, especially in New York. As we go into the millennium I hope to see change. To everyone: Hate Is Just Wasted Energy.
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