NAACP, KKK leaders meet to discuss race issues

Meeting in Wyoming about violence against black men and segregation could be first of its kind
Local leaders of the Ku Klux Klan and the NAACP had a face-to-face meeting in Casper, Wyo. on Saturday, potentially the first time the two groups have ever met peacefully.

Jimmy Simmons, president of the Casper branch of the NAACP, reached out to John Abarr of the KKK group United Klans of America in June to try to organize the meeting, according to the Casper Star-Tribune, which first reported the story.

Initially, the national office of the NAACP was not in favor of the meeting, but gave the green light after requiring the meeting to be held in Casper in a place Simmons would be safe.

The meeting was held off until numerous ground rules were set, such as agreeing to meet under heavy security. The meeting was organized so the two groups could discuss a recent wave of violence against black men in the area as well as KKK pamphlets that had recently been distributed in the area.

The two men also discussed segregation and the KKK's desire to secede from the U.S. Abarr told Simmons that he saw an increase in new members in his Klan group when President Barack Obama was elected, and told Simmons why he likes being a member of the Klan.

"I like it because you wear robes, and get out and light crosses, and have secret handshakes," Abarr said, according to the Star-Tribune. "I like being in the Klan -- I sort of like it that people think I'm some sort of outlaw."

But Abarr -- who said he believes violence against black men is a hate crime and says his group is a non-violent religious organization that is focused on political issues – told Simmons that for some members, his branch of the KKK isn't hateful enough. Abarr said he likes to "recruit really radical kids, then calm them down after they join."

Both men said they weren't aware of any time the two groups have met previously, potentially making the meeting a historic first. According to Abarr, the United Klans of America's leader Bradley Jenkins was actually excited about the meeting with the NAACP and had to step in to overrule objections from other leaders in the group who were opposed to it.

"He lives in Alabama, and he told me he would love to sit down with the NAACP in Alabama and talk," Abarr told the Casper Star-Tribune. "People are going to call me names for coming down here," he said. "You know, I might not even have a group when I get back."

Despite Abarr's candor, local NAACP officials found it hard to believe Abarr was really knowledgeable about the history of his organization. The meeting ended with a surprise – Abarr joined the NAACP on the spot, and said he would be interested in meeting again. It's not clear whether anything will develop outside of the meeting.


aljazeera