They were beaten and shot to death. Among those indicted with a triple slaying were six men identified as members of the ku klux klan. None have been barred been brought to trial. In this automobile, men was cut by a shotgun blast while writing through georgia. Fousted for the crime were r knights of the ku klux klan. Months, 13short alleged members of the ku klux klan said to be involved in these murders. You are completely at their mercy. Their atrocities and violence can be visited on anybody that disagrees with them in any given situation. What started as a joke 100 years ago when a group of men for a romp hass over the years attracted to it persons charged with acts of harassment, intimidation and violence throughout the south. It is a nation has been outraged for many years, the ku klux klan persists with its bizarre rituals and trappings. 100 years is a long time for a joke. Cbs reports presents the ku klux klan the invisible empire. Here is charles crawled kerrault. The ku klux klan has been allowed to exist in this country. Virtually every president in the last century has said they have little regard for constitutional authority. President johnson, following the murder in alabama, defined the ku klux klan as the footed. Ociety of a gets of bigots he warned them to return to a Decent Society before it is too late. The House American Activities Committee started a fullscale investigation on the grand slam. On the ku klux klan. They have hearings planned. Attemptittee will not to show the ku klux klan in action. For the next hour, we will take a close look at the ku klux klan from the inside out, examine its leadership, rituals, secret initiations, its a record of violence. First, let us look at klansmen without robes. It is sunday, the day after a meeting in durham, North Carolina. Thee men are part of knights of the ku klux klan, one of the most exclusive organizations in america. It excludes anyone who, anyone who, according to them, is not 100 american. , but int hate niggers dont associate with common jews or catholics if i can help it. Jones. S is j robert he now reportedly rules over more than 50 chapters, and there 7000 members. I think the nigger has rights, it should be equal but separate rights. It has worked before now and it works now. If Lyndon Johnson told me i had to associate with you, i would tell him to go to hell. This is matt murphy, until his death, he was the Legal Counsel of the united klans. Speeches before the united clans of america. They were the only organization that ever went on record after i ,ad talked for two solid hours on the viciousness of the the Federal Reserve corporation and how it has a built americans out of their Great Britain has removed the bank from international bankers. This is a nighthawk of the lans. D k theyre responsible for security. Why did you join . Have a wife and five kids. I want them to be, to have a country to be raised up in like i was. I was not forced to go to school with niggers and it with them. I want them to have the rights i had. This is mr. Outlaw. Outlawer jones goes, mr. Is at his side. These are the three defendants indicted for the killing. Men had little to say. They preferred listening to their counsel. I wrote in my history books, there is a nigger, the race is an inferior race. They taught me that in school. That was not too long ago. They always were in the always will be. Where do you think the money is coming from behind the Civil Rights Movement . Christ killing jews. What about the role of the catholics . The reason the catholics cannot get in this organization, his first allegiance is not to the United States, his first allegiance is to the pope. They think the church should rule the government with the pope at the head. If they are right, a lot of people in this country are wrong. Weve never had a drop of blood spilled between a white man and a black men in any city in North Carolina with the klan. Everybody is organized. Niggers have the naacp. The jewish people have the knights of columbus. Nobody has ever talked about investigating it, they should. Gentile, protestant the only salvation may have left kkk. E United States is the important ku klux klan official was not at the meeting. The chaplain. There was one in action the night before. You got a bunch of people standing up here with their cameras and they dont have enough backbone to give him a job and go to work. [applause] i want to tell you, im just telling you, they will print half of the story. They dont have enough backbone to tell the truth. You will die and go to hell without god. [applause] [laughter] is cspi would investigate i would the fb investigate them. [applause] the preacher in action. The hellfire speaker, the rabblerouser. He entertains with a measure of comedy and christianity. Above all, he preaches racial hatred. You think that black and white should be mixed together. Your dog wont mix with your hog. Listen friends, we need to turn to god. We need to raise up with god. God will give us freedom. Our forefathers walked barefoot in the snow to give us freedom. Because we set back have a man in the white house. We need to stand up. Takes a man to be a man. Andody going down committing adultery with a nigger. Ogs, they have little pigs. S, they will try to protect them. See our children sold out to a bunch of niggers. Dont be a hypocrite, dont be onesided. Do something about it. [applause] was born 100 years ago in alaska, tennessee as a sixmember social club. The burning cross became a symbol of the violence it used to keep the newly freed negroes in their place. Produceddw griffith what was called the first great featurelength picture, the birth of a nation, who subject was the ku klux klan. Klansmen. L shown to these are some scenes. Of two whiteessing children scaring negro children as the pickiness as depicted as the birth of the klan. The idea is successful. Masks, white men are able to fight negroes. Negro scared a white girl in concert to fall to a cliff to her death, the negro kills a white man. Captured, the killer is taken to the woods and put on trial. The klan passes judgment. The culprit is killed and his body deposited at the door of the lieutenant governor. In the same year that the birth of a nation was released, a new leader rose to have the klan. William simmons. He leads his followers of Stone Mountain in georgia for the first initiation ceremony of the reincarnated klan. He added something new to the uniform, a stylized facemask which he alone could wear. He also insisted they operate in secrecy. Sinister activity group. After first 14 months world war i, 70 negroes were lynched, 14 burned. In 1922, the imperial wizard int not overcome raklan difficulties. New imperial wizard established headquarters in washington to be closer to congress, their next target. They were so powerful in oregon in 1923, was able to elect the resident of the state senate and the speaker of the house. In ohio, their candidates became mayors. At the National Democratic convention in new york in 1924, it is estimated at least 350. Elegates were klansman 1925, the klan was big business. The organization was grossing 75 million year. Klansman and women paraded down pennsylvania avenue. Used to catch money thrown by spectators. In the 1920s, the imperial was it of indiana was indicted on charges of assault and battery, rate, mayhem, kidnapping and murder. And found guilty. The scandal caused a sharp drop in membership. In 1940, there was a mild flirtation between the germanamerican believers in the master race and the kkk. Iney joined up in a rally new jersey. 25 years later, there is nazience that klan friendship is being revived. This man was interviewed by a Radio Station and paid by check for his appearance. When the canceled check was returned, it had been endorsed by the head of the American Nazi Party with a swastika stamped beneath his signature. Wizard, and imperial received a bill from the irs for 685,000 for the klans back taxes. Unable to pay, he disbanded the klan. Four years later, his partner reactivated the klan. At a rally in georgia, the imperial wizard defended the new klan. We dont hate the negro. God made him black and made us white. Laid out ind this genesis, in which he segregated the races. For 5000 years, the white man has been the supreme race. We intend to keep it the white race. Today, the Organization First from the past, in that klansmen are willing to appear in the ropes and floods in daylight. The essence of the civil rights struggle, they have become more militant. Groups have paramilitary units. Guards are trained to take care of anything that might happen at rallies. They also sponsored a softball teams. Since softball cannot be played bes, kkk appears on the uniform. Sometimes, mannesmann engage in more bizarre sport. The letters kkk were carved with a knife on the chest and stomach of this man in houston, texas, after he had been hanged from his knees and flock. The attorney general of alabama, who is currently investigating the kkk in his state, told us to me, it is a group primarily of thugs that would use the civil rights issue to foster an organization or a clan , as they are, and will take them take the law into their own hands. They have become their own police power. They are a police group within themselves dedicated to defiance of law, violence, they are, as i have expressed before, they are a hooded bunch of killers and night riders and floggers. This nation and state has no use for them whatsoever. The strength of the ku klux klan is difficult to estimate. Among its me secrets is the actual membership total. Students of their affairs say there are at least 30,000 to 50,000 active members. Re probably is millie probably as many as a million americans sympathetic to their aims, and if pushed to a decision would join them. When a 100 pure White American citizen applies. Applies, if use excepted, he can become a member of the visible the invisible empire. We filmed part of a secret initiation ceremony in georgia. Filming had to be done with available light and the only parts of the ritual we cannot film were the secret handshake, password by which klansmen identify each other, and the secret oath of allegiance to the Imperial Authority of the klan. This is the ceremony we filmed. [chanting] five initiates appear before an exalted cyclops and others. Corresponding to a president , lecturer, chaplin and secretary. By anad been checked out investigating committee. On a makeshift altar before an electrified cross are placed a sword representing ancestral courage and a flag, the implement of your patriotism. An open bible is laid on the flag. A glass of water, which is used ,o consecrate the initiates completes the symbolic array. An inner guard sits at the door. On the other side, is an outer guard. The guard and to assistance report to the cyclops. [indiscernible] stand in silence and [indiscernible] right face. Left face. This is the eyes of scrutiny part of the ceremony. Klan members passed by the initiates for one last, searching look. Right face. March. In this room, the initiates swear allegiance to the klan above all things. The secrecy and ritual of these meetings, to seem laughable to an outsider, have a grim purpose. Because if its a secrecy, they can hold sway over a community. Men are initiated into the klan and their neighbors will not known they are klansman. If some are sheriff deputies, fellow officers will not know. If they are jurors, fellow jurors will not know. The klan can take over positions of influence and power. Therefore brethren, by the mercies of god, you present your body as a living sacrifice, may you be transformed that you may prove what is good and acceptable in the perfect will of god. Relationshipze our to the government of United States of america, the sopranos of the this from c of the constitution and constitutional laws. [indiscernible] argue a white, gentile american citizen . Do you believe in the christian religion . [indiscernible] let us pray. [indiscernible] i welcome you to citizenship and the invisible empire, the knights of the ku klux klan. The new klansmen are not part of the alien world, they are part of the invisible empire, entitled to wear the robe and proud possessors of the secret handshake and password. They can now attend clever and klavern meetings and rallies such as this one. [cheering] has aspects of a carnival. Children start attending at an early age. Robes are made for youngsters. Andies have entertainers, they are tailored for an audience. This one recites a palm. A poem. [indiscernible] [applause] the featured speaker is usually a wellknown personality. At this rally, the late matt murphy junior, Imperial Council of united claims. I will tell you this, i will tie you want to do, theyre about to pay the bill of sale that striking a civil rights worker is a federal offense. [indiscernible] thats the way they will do it. Gunor god sake, get your and get somebody who will fight. [applause] the extra added attraction, he introduced the three men indicted for the murder of the civil rights worker. [applause] [cheers and applause] and befitting the occasion, the three men were besieged by autograph hunters. They willingly obliged. Of crimesrs accused must be defended. Additionally, money is needed for operating expenses. The invisible empire needs of treasury. But where the money comes from and how much is a secret. What is known is that initiation fees are between 10 and 25, and yearly dues range from three dollars to 10. The estimate is that it is a Million Dollar a year enterprise. Robes,omes from dues, individual contributions and what is raised at a rally. You can afford to give 1000. That might be a businessman. There might be someone who could write a check here for one man salary. Have, 10, one dollar. , weught to be able tonight ought tonight to come way up the letter. Adder. L [applause] the men and women received torches and parade around the circle. Cheerish the old rugged cross what you are watching, 700 robed and hooded men marching around a burning cross took place in the United States in. 965 klan leaders are sensitive about the reputation the klan has for violence. They have adopted a new policy which says look at us. We are a fraternal organization. We have nothing to hide. Imwizards and grand dragons no longer avoid the dress. They sport crew cuts, buttoned down collars and well tailored suits. The most publicized leader is imperial leader Robert Shelton of the knights of kkk. He spence time in his Alabama Office constantly listening to tape recordings of dr. Martin luther king jr. Those he can identified are circled and filed. He explains why. Place ve a division or bureau b. I. , the klan of investigation. The klan says it does not want violence, that it is a peaceful organization. In the Small Community of gray, georgia, the only Movie Theater in town permitted negroes to sit in the balcony. The klan decided this was not a good thing. Very friday night 50 car loads of clansmen circled the theater. Further were uncovered in a lawsuit in new orleans. The hearings revealed in boeing lewis, louisiana, sometimes of d klantown u. S. A. In the citys 19,000 klan members were city policeman. The City Attorney was himself identified as a clansman. Boeing lewis station moved against. They made a speech in boeing on race n bogalusa relations. The effect was immediate. 75 of the commercials were canceled. Wbox is still broadcasting, but at a loss. Although the klan says it has respect for law and order, there are records of countless crimes which some klansmen performed for those that they deemed proper. Klokann uld have the committee or the committee that administered the nothingings. One would get on one side of this man who was doubled up with his wrists handcuffed to his ankles, who had been taken from his home he thought by a legal warrant, and who had unknown to him been reported by someone to be a labor organizer , and they equated that to communism, and they equated that to race mixing, and they would usually equate that to say some jewish person was back of it. The multiplicity of things, anything that appealed to hate and berggren desouza. They would take this man, and they would beat him. The Klu Klux Klan does not stop at floggings. At years ago in birmingham, conducted e klansmen a crime short of murder. They abducted this man and castratred him. They hit me in the back of the head, grabbed me, and stepped me out. One stood on this arm and one stood on this one. One caught my legs and spread them apart. Then he got help from the other one, and they spread my legs apart. The boss ordered him to do your way, and they went to cutting on me. When they got through cutting me, they put turpentine on me and said i wasnt hollering, put turpentine to mchale it hurt more. I dont believe they are human. Not only individuals suffer at the hands of the klan. Sometimes whole cities are victims. In one large city there is evidence that klaninspired violence touched off one of the most vicious racial riots in history. The place was st. Augustine, florida. This klansman was responsible for what hatched. Reverend ronnie lynch is the biggest rabblerouser that the klan has to offer. Most people would shoot you if put a bull in the white her fered. There may be some bedroom cases all right, but when the smoke clears away, there wont be no bedroom caseles. Little rock, birmingham, bogalusa, connie lynch was there. When racial violence was predicted for florida, connie lynch went there too. Negroes were trying to integrate the bathing beaches, and the Florida Advisory Committee warned that the city was becoming a racial super bomb with a short fuse. When the police stand up on the corners and hit the black fellas standing on the corner, that is hate. The temple of violence increased rapidly. The klan paraded in the streets, unmindful of the rain. And i will say this to the stooges that want to take us all o the enemy, and the the cohorts, we are going to rise up 40 million strong. [cheers and applause] on the night of june 25, 1964, the fuse burned down, and t