Police Chief Darius Puff confirmed his officers responded to the corner of Philadelphia and North Reading avenues on June 6, after a caller reported possible trouble between the Klan and an unspecified number of local youths. “We’re still investigating it, but at this point, we know there was some sort of confrontation between a group of young people and the Klan,” Puff said. “They were evidently having a little bit of problem with some kids.”
Puff said it appears the incident was limited to verbal exchanges between the teens and members of the hate group. Don’t people realize this is exactly what the Klan lives for? By involving yourselves in confrontation with these morons, you’re feeding their desires, fueling their hatred and satisfying their need to make themselves important. If ignorance is bliss, these Klansmen are the happiest bunch known to mankind. Boyertown has been the site of numerous Klan gatherings, such as the leafleting and a march. Puff said the June 6 incident was the first time in recent memory the Klan has been faced with blatant opposition.
“That’s part of the problem,” said Unity Coalition secretary Clorinda Sheridan. “Until the town council, the police, businesses and clergy get together and issue a proclamation denouncing the Klan, they’re going to continue to come here,” Sheridan continued. “It’s not that they should be against the right to congregate, but they should be sending the message that this is wrong.”
Boyertown’s borough council has declined to take a stance on the Klan activity, citing the First Amendment right to free speech. That is the right thing to do. The Klan’s activities are aimed at inciting opposition and gathering new members. The public can fight the Klan without ever raising a fist. First, ignore their activities, their gatherings. Take their leaflets and throw them in the trash. By ignoring them, you put out their fire. Second, put a positive spin on what the Klan does. The Unity Coalition has done just that. The group, a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating racism and raising awareness of the problem, has managed to make the Klan’s visits profitable. Each time the Klan visits Boyertown, the Coalition collects pledges from those opposed to the group.
“Project Lemonade” has raised $9,000, Sheridan said. The money has then been donated to the NAACP, the Anti-Defamation League, Center for Democratic Renewal and the Unity Coalition’s efforts.
“We’ve all profited greatly by this,” said Sheridan.
“Project Lemonade” is a great idea that has smacked the Klan in the face, answering its call for hate with cold cash. The Klan seeks to raise the level of hatred — yet all it has done is raise money for the groups of people it hates. Brilliant. We encourage the Unity Coalition and others to continue with “Project Lemonade.”
But there must be more. Adults — generally
— are able to rationally deal with the Klan. They see the group for what
it really is. However, it’s our young people we have to look out
for. They are easily intimidated, enraged and, unfortunately, sometimes
attracted by the Klan. We must educate them to the evils of hate
groups like the Klan. And we must educate them in the art of ignoring groups
like the Klan, the Aryan Nation and others. When you’re young, your
emotions run high. We must teach them how to keep their emotions in check
when it comes to these
people. We say, “Just do it.” But we mean ignore the Klan,
raise even more money to fight their efforts — without violence. Send them
packing without a police escort.
Reproduced with the permission of The Pottstown Mercury (mercury@op.net).
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