KKK Members Rally Ends In Violence: 13 Arrested And 3 Stabbed

A small group of Ku Klux Klan members planned a rally in Anaheim at 1:30 p.m. at the Pearson Park, which lead to a streak of violence causing 3 stabbings and 13 arrests, the Los Angeles Times reports.

By 11 a.m., protesters were already swarming the area, planning to confront the KKK members. About an hour later, the police showed up escorting a group of men with Confederate Flag patches and black garb.

Eventually, the protest led to violence. Some of the protesters were seen kicking a man with a shirt reading “Grand Dragon.” A protester suddenly fell to the ground crying and bleeding, saying that he had been stabbed.

Witnesses say they saw the Klansman stabbing the protester with the point of a flagpole. The KKK member told police that he stabbed the protester in self-defense.

Sgt. Daron Wyatt, an officer for the Anaheim Police Department, tells the press that two more people were stabbed, the second person being a protester and another, whose identity was not clear.

During the fiasco, seven protesters were arrested, as well as six KKK members, the Los Angeles Times revealed.

The director of CSU San Bernardino’s Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, Brian Levin, said he was standing by the man in the grand dragon shirt when protesters with weapons surrounded the Klansmen. Levin further revealed that after the fight broke out, the KKK member who was knocked down by the protesters was being kicked and beaten. Shortly after, Levin noticed the Klansman’s arm bleeding.

Levin said he shoved the KKK member out of the way and asked him, “How do you feel that a Jewish guy just saved your life?” The Klansman allegedly replied, “Thank you.”

According to the Los Angeles Times, a large crowd of people swarmed the area shortly after the brawl questioning why the Anaheim Police didn’t have a bigger presence before the Rally.

The “Imperial Wizard” of the Loyal White Knights of the KKK, Chris Barker, was not present during the rally, although he did tell ABC News that his members were defending themselves and were simply holding an anti-immigration demonstration, which was meant to be peaceful. Barker was at the group’s headquarters in Pelham, North Carolina, when he spoke via phone.

“If we’re attacked, we will attack back.”

The Los Angeles Times mentions that until 1924, KKK members were a troubling part of Anaheim’s history. Before a recall occurred in 1924, four out of five city council members were KKK members. When the KKK members had the most power, the city had nearly 300 Klansmen. They used to patrol the city in their masks and robes. During large KKK rallies, nearly 20,000 people would attend.

• Nicole Rae Schop, 24, of Los Angeles was charged with elder abuse and bail was set at $50,000.
• Charles Edward Donner, 51, of San Francisco was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and bail was set at $25,000.
• Mark Anthony Liddell, 26, of Los Angeles was charged with elder abuse and bail was set at $50,000.
• Marquis DeShawn Turner, 20, of Anaheim was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and bail was set at $25,000.
• Guy Harris, 19, of Transient was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and bail was set at $25,000.
• Randy Omarcc Felder, 25, of Lakewood was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and bail was set at $25,000.
• Hugo Contreras, 38, of Hawthorne was charged with elder abuse and bail was set at $50,000.

[Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images]