The KKK in Lincoln, 1924
The Ku Klux Klan was at the peak of its influence in Nebraska by the mid-1920s. Although its origins dated to the years following the Civil War, when it primarily targeted blacks in the former Confederate states, the reorganized Klan of the early twentieth century rapidly expanded beyond the South and, while continuing to embrace racism, identified new enemies of "100 percent Americanism." They included Catholics, Jews, immigrants, corrupt politi cians and radical political movements.
The Nebraska Klan held its state convention in Lincoln in July 1924, which not only drew some 800 Klansmen, but huge crowds of spectators, according to the July 2 issue of the Nebraska State Journal. That morning the Klan staged a parade in downtown Lincoln with members in full regalia, some of whom were on horseback and others carrying U. S. flags or crosses. That night, an outdoor rally, fireworks display, and initiation ceremony took place in the countryside north of the city. Estimates of the number of autos that jammed the streets and roadways leading to the site ranged from five to ten thousand. "The size of the crowd that was outlined by star shells and floating lights during the big show will never be known, but it was frequently compared to state fair crowds. If all the cars had been bunched up on the streets between the city and the fair grounds there would have been such as jam as fair rushes rarely produce.
"The field where the program was put on was lighted up with red glaring candles. ‘The Coming of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan’ was the opener of the program. A line of Klansmen mounted on horseback rode along the brow of the hill. A large cross was lighted up and a large band of hooded Klansmen were revealed kneeling beneath it. . . A band played sacred music as the various pageants were shown and interspersed with an occasional bit of lively march music. The huge letters, 'One Law' blazed up and were encircled by Klansmen. A large portrait of George Washington was brought to view by casting bright lights upon it. . . . A portrait of Abraham Lincoln was shown in a similar manner.
"The letters 'K.K.K.' were surrounded by robed figures and when illu - minated, the crowd applauded. A fireworks portrait of Dr. Hiram W. Evans, Imperial Wizard of the Klan, brought cheers. After the setting off of a salvo of bombshells, the 'Little Red Schoolhouse' was displayed. The band struck up ‘School Days’ and the crowd joined in the singing of the song. A large brilliantly lighted American flag was touched off. The playing of 'The Star Spangled Banner' brought the audience to its feet. Two horsemen, attired in Klan regalia, were shown facing each other with two fiery crosses in the background making up another pageant.”
At its zenith, the KKK was said to have had some 45,000 members in Ne braska and chapters or “Klaverns” in communities across the state. By the end of the 1920s, however, Nebraskans had come to see the Klan as a divisive and corrupt organization promoting violence rather than true American values. It
soon faded from the scene.
To read more, see Michael W. Schuyler, "The KKK in Nebraska, 1920-1930," Nebraska History 66 (Fall 1985) available on the Nebraska State Historical Society's website (see below). After reaching the site, go to "Publishing Program," click on "Nebraska History Magazine," and then "read articles."
To learn more about the programs and services of the Nebraska State Historical Society, call 1-800-633-6747 or visit our website at www.nebras kahistory.org
