Posted on 01/15/2003 9:15:44 PM PST by Jean S
A Washington, D.C.-based civil rights leader said Wednesday he has uncovered documents indicating that Sen. Robert Byrd, D-WV, was a member of the notorious anti-black hate group the Ku Klux Klan for a far longer period of time than he has admitted.
"Some people say that he was only in (the Klan) for a couple of months," said Kevin Martin, head of the African-American Republican Leadership Council, in an interview on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes." "But we have documentation that says he was in for almost two years," Martin revealed.
On Monday, Byrd's spokesman Tom Gavin insisted to NewsMax.com that the Senator's days in the Klan, where he served as a Grand Kleagle-recruiter, lasted for just "a number of months" in 1943. Gavin said Byrd came clean about his secret past in a series of private conversations the two had over the last five years.
But according to an expert on the Klan quoted by the Washington Post last year, Byrd was still advising Grand Imperial Wizard Samuel Green on Klan appointments and strategy until at least 1946.
On Monday Gavin maintained that Byrd had told him he had nothing to do with any lynchings or cross burnings during his days in the Klan. But he also revealed that Byrd insists he wasn't ever a racist - not even as a card-carrying member of the night-riding terror group.
AARLC chief Martin vowed that conservative civil rights groups like the Congress of Racial Equality, Project 21, and the Brotherhood Organization for a New Destiny would ferret out the truth about the Democratic Party's ex-Klansman.
"We're going to lay the records out," said Martin. "And it's (the Democratic) Party that is the party of dogs, night-riders and Bull Connors."
On Tuesday BOND chief Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson called for a congressional investigation into Byrd's Klan past, saying his bizarre claim that he was racially tolerant as Klansman undermined his other assertions that he never participated in lynchings or cross burnings.
That's why the top Senate Democrat needs to "explain his relationship with the Klan" to congressional investigators, Peterson said. Any probe into Byrd's activities should cover "not only the actions that he took, but he should identify the people that were involved in the Klan at the time," he added.
"I really would like to see him name the people who participated in the lynchings of black Americans during that time," the Los Angeles-based civil rights leader said. "Because some of those people could still be involved in the legal system of this country making decisions about Americans today. And we need to know who those people are."
So, what is the name of this movie and when will it be released? I must see this old gizzard wizard playing his role of general. LOL
"The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan is a strictly law-abiding organization. Every associate is sworn to uphold the law and the principles of justice, and that he will not conspire with others to commit any unlawful or violent acts."
I wonder if Byrd took a similar "non-violent" oath in his KKK days.
West Virginia Senator Plays Confederate General in Film
Nov. 23, 2001--Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia is the latest politician to take on a cameo role in "Gods and Generals," the Ron Maxwell movie currently filming near Keedysville, Maryland. Unlike his colleague Phill Gramm, who had to play a Virginia politician, Byrd will be portraying Confederate Gen. Paul Semmes of Georgia.
Byrd was attired in a beard and mustache along with a general's hat, gray greatcoat and saber. He said he had no objections to playing the role of a Georgian.
"You see, I'm a history buff. And anything I can do to preserve history for future generations, I want to do it," he told the Hagerstown Herald-Mail.
Maxwell has said he invited Byrd and other political figures to appear in the film because they could provide valuable publicity for both the film and for Maxwell's interest in saving Civil War battlefields.
The shot in which Byrd took part depicts the preparation for the Battle of Fredericksburg. Waiting nearby were Robert Duvall, who is playing Gen. Robert E. Lee, and Stephen Lang as "Stonewall" Jackson.
In the segment involving Byrd, the Confederate command meets around a table to discuss options. The fact that the battle actually took place in the dead of winter forced a brief halt in filming as the crew waited for the last of the leaves to fall from the trees.
Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski made an appearance at the movie shoot, taking advantage of Byrd's appearance in her state to present him with congratulations on reaching his 84th birthday.
The film crew surprised Byrd with a birthday cake in the shape of West Virginia after the shoot, said Vic Heutschy, publicist for the production crew. Maxwell also gave him a replica of a Civil War cannon as a gift.
"I won't soon forget this," said Byrd.
Filming is expected to be completed by Dec. 13 and the Warner Bros. production is set for release in early 2003.
Nice job--and God Bless you.
Pretty, pretty, pretty.......
That was great seeing you get in the "Sheets Byrd" comment! I'm still chuckling.
Fine job also in laying out the serious arguments in a clear, understandable manner.
There really wasn't much Alan could do except squirm.
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