OPINION:
There are between 5,000 and 8,000 Ku Klux Klan (KKK) members today, distributed in nearly 180 different Klan factions (or chapters), according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Most of these chapters are located in the southern region of the U.S. This hate group, organised in 1865, used to have about 4 million members in 1925, when it was at its largest.
In 1925 the total population of the country was 115.83 million. Today the population is 327.83 million. Thus in 1925 the percent of the adult population that were KKK members was 6 percent to 7 percent. Today the percent of the adult population that are members is so low it is statistically zero.
The size of the KKK, both in total numbers and as a percent of the population, has declined by over 99 percent in less than a century. That is a statistic that everyone in America should be proud of. Even if you count all of the neo-racist groups together they would still be a drop in the bucket.
Imagine if the next time some racist groups like the KKK or neo-Nazis planned a rally the news media did not cover it, and only reported on it after the fact if it had been a really slow news day. There would be about 50 people standing around doing nothing at the event other than preaching their hate to themselves. I bet after a few such rallies without media coverage and counter-protesters, these events would stop. In other words, the media should quit providing the fuel that only encourages these racists.
COMM. WAYNE L. JOHNSON
Judge Advocate General’s Corps, U.S. Navy (retired)
Alexandria
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