KKK Rally in Cumberland Greeted By Large Counter Protest

On Saturday, April 26, a branch of the Ku Klux Klan rallied on the steps of the courthouse on Washington St. in Cumberland. The rally was first reported on by the Cumberland Times News on April 24. Although Sherriff Craig A. Robertson initially expected 15 participants of the Traditional Rebel Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, only seven members were present when the rally began at 11:47 a.m.

The rally sparked community outcry with as many as 100 people gathering opposite the courthouse to protest the Klan’s presence. Protesters held signs and shouted in attempts to drown out the Klan members’ speeches. One protester was squawking loudly to drown out the bullhorn of the members.

Another protester Terry Allen Smith, an African-American man from Nashville, TN shouted sarcastically, “Can I join?” Smith told The Bottom Line that he was in the Cumberland area visiting family and read about the upcoming rally in the paper.

Although protesters were able drown out the speeches of the three Klansmen, The Bottom Line was able to report on some of what was said. Comments by the KKK shouted messages of racial superiority and anti-semitism. President Barack Obama was also mentioned by one member as being a foreigner who “hasn’t even supplied his birth certificate.”

As the rally continued, the protesters began to spill over from the sidewalk on to the street with police maintaining order. The Klan members began verbally assaulting the crowd directly. “Each and every one of you are part of the problem,” said the one member dressed in the white robe that are iconic of the Klan. The heavy police presence and security made attempts to identify or talk to the Klansmen impossible.

At about 12:30 p.m., the rally ended and the members of the Traditional Rebel Knights of the Ku Klux Klan headed to an adjacent parking lot under heavy police protection. The protesters followed and continued to shout.

Before the members’ vehicles exited the parking lot, three supporters walked out of the parking lot. An altercation was narrowly avoided as a small group of protesters began shouting at one of the supporters, who in turned challenged them to a fight. Another protester, a man with an American flagged draped over his shoulders was able to diffuse the situation.

As the vehicles left the parking lot on Prospect Square they were met with various fluids and debris being thrown by some of the protesters. Tensions eventually died down once the Klan members pulled on to Washington Street and out of view. The protesters applauded.

Smith said, “I was impressed [with Cumberland]. I didn’t think they’d run them off the way they did, but [it was] very impressive.”

Charles Robin Woods, a native Cumberland protester was also pleased with the public’s reaction. “I would just like to say that I am so proud of our community,” said Woods. “We had everyone here in our community today peacefully demonstrate to let these people who spread hatred know that they are not welcome here.” Woods later added that the tensions at the end of the protest were “a small footnote” compared to the larger event.

The Traditional Rebel Knights of the Ku Klux Klan are a group based in Braddock Heights, MD. According to their website, they have no other events planned in the near future.

The Southern Poverty Law Center’s website lists 15 known hate groups are based in the state. This branch of the Traditional Rebel Knights, however, is not listed as one of them.

Featured image: (Erin Gingerich/ TBL)