WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA
Coal Country protest challenges racist, anti-gay Klan
By Judy
Owens and Nick Brisini
Somerset, Pa.
On June 26, Ku Klux Klan leader C. Edward Foster brought his
racist sideshow to the small town of Somerset in southwestern
Pennsylvania, not far from the Mason-Dixon Line. Fifteen local
Nazi skinheads showed up at the Somerset County Courthouse
wearing confederate flag bandanas and swastikas, but they were
outnumbered by anti-Klan protesters. At least 120 people came
out to oppose the Klan and Nazis.
The Klan especially targeted gay people in their speeches.
They specifically attacked a gay couple holding a child. The
protestors promptly defended the couple with an appropriate
chant.
Not all of the anti-Klan people were directly in front of
the courthouse steps where the Klan spouted their trash. Anyone
wishing to protest at the front was forced to enter a roped-off
area. Police stood on the courthouse steps behind the rope,
between the Klan scum and the protestors. Mounted police
patrolled the outside area while a helicopter circled
overhead.
In order to enter the roped-off area, protestors and
observers were required to pass through metal detectors, be
frisked, empty their pockets, remove their hats, etc. A
protester who tried to bring a small amplifier into the area
was turned away by the cops, while the Klan was allowed to use
a large sound system.
A militant group of 30 anti-fascist protestors entered the
area and gave the Klan hell. They chanted "Gay, straight,
Black, white, same enemy, same fight" and "2,4,6,8, we don't
want your racist hate." Klan boss Foster appeared intimidated
and cowered behind a courthouse pillar.
Also in the crowd were undercover police pretending to be
photographers. They took pictures of the demonstrators while a
squadron of police in full riot gear hid in a store behind the
protest. Police also filled the courthouse. No arrests were
made.
The protest was organized by the Coal Country Coalition.
Among those who confronted the KKK were members and supporters
of Workers World Party, Anti-Racist Action members from the
West Virginia coalfields and Pittsburgh, and the International
Socialist Organization. There were also people from the
community, including religious anti-racists with children in
tow, professors from a local university and a small
businessperson.
The KKK left town in a bus driven by the police. It appeared
that the police were training for something much bigger than
this rally.
Struggle in the coalfields
In the 1920s Somerset County saw many working-class
upheavals, including shooting battles between coal miners and
company goons. But today the mines are shut down, leaving this
county severely depressed.
The Klan has been active here for years, holding cross
burnings and terrorizing patrons of Casa Nova, the only gay bar
in Somerset County. Once a shotgun blast shattered a bar
window, injuring a patron.
Recently a local newspaper revealed the Klan and some
right-wing religious zealots wrote down license plate numbers
and gave them to a local police chief. The cop searched through
Department of Motor Vehicles records and gave information about
bar patrons to the Klan.
Patricia Kramer, owner of Casa Nova, stated: "They know the
names of many of my patrons and this has been going on for
years now."
The fight against the fascists will continue in the
coalfields. On June 28 Klan leader Barry Black informed a local
newspaper that his group, "Keystone Knights of the KKK," would
be holding a rally in Central Park around Labor Day. The
hate-monger said it will be a "political rally" and claimed
that local African Americans are invited.
Klansman Black's group has especially targeted local
lesbian/gay/bi/trans people. On his answering machine, he calls
for the ethnic cleansing of African American people. Now Black
is trying to describe his group as a fraternal organization
that will work to help the community.
Anti-Klan activists are already making plans to counter the
fascists.
This article is copyright under a Creative Commons License.
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