And while you’re looking for your next great read, please don’t overlook our new History Book of the Month:
KLAN: Killing America
by Ken Rossignol
This is the story of the Ku Klux Klan and their chief brand: Lynchings, as told in the original newspaper stories from journals across the nation. Some are brief, telling only of a single attack while others are more comprehensive and detailed, telling the story with the inclusion of complex and emotional occurrences.
The attempt of the KKK to cloak the power of control over others with fear and violence is explained in some of these news stories. The chief advocate and leader of the Klan was interviewed by reporters and allowed fair access to give his side of the story. The heroism of various groups such as the NAACP and others who risked their lives standing up to thugs and criminals is also noted, as well as the words of those individuals and leaders who fought to eliminate the influence of the Ku Klux Klan.
While the KKK had as much right as any group to demonstrate and articulate their cause, the deceits and criminal actions employed by them separated their group from the legal actions of others.
For readers in the 21st Century who know little of the life and death of the KKK, the admonition to understand and know history in order to avoid repeating it, should be considered. Therefore, it is in that hope that this book has been prepared. WARNING: Authentic descriptions are vivid and brutal and the racially charged language of this historic news reports and commentary has not been modified. This material is for adults and parental guidance is appropriate.
In 2003, the Fourth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals ruled in my Civil Rights case brought under the 1983 Civil Rights Act, in my favor. The case is Rossignol v. Voorhaar
In this case a Sheriff, six deputies and a state’s attorney candidate conspired and carried out a plan to remove all available copies of my newspaper from newsstands the night before Election Day in order to prevent voters from reading critical articles prior to voting. The defendants appealed to the Supreme Court which turned down their appeal. The case was pursued by my attorneys Levine, Sullivan, Koch & Shultz of Washington, D.C. The lead counsel on the case were Ashley Kissinger and Seth Berlin with Alice Neff Lucan assisting. The readers, advertisers and supporters of the newspaper along with my family made it possible for me to sustain six long years of litigation in order to protect the First Amendment rights of us all. My thanks all of the above. – Ken Rossignol