CNN: The People v the Klan (1981 Mobile, Al Michael Donald Case)

[81usaf92]

I hope this is the right NS to place it. I thought due to the content it belongs here. I grew interested because one of my professors was someone that was interviewed. I didn’t know of the case until a few weeks ago. It was a Mobile Alabama lynching in 1981.

It was a very interesting documentary. Worth checking out if you have time.

I was also wondering if anyone remembers this because the documentary makes the claim that the case bankrupted the klan. We constantly hear about 16th street but I never heard of this case.

takeaways so far

- Jeff Sessions looks really bad in it
- the Mobile police department looks really bad

 

[B1GTide]

Is it streaming somewhere?

 

[selmaborntidefan]

I was alive at the time, and this is the first time I’ve ever heard of it. Of course with my memory it hit me why - remember I had shingles last week? Coincidentally, the day this happened was the day my chicken pox flared up; I was out for spring break. And back then, a lot of news didn’t hit the national scene (and I was in Mississippi at the time). Plus a few weeks later, Reagan got shot and that buried most news stories for a few months other than the summer baseball strike.

Horrible story as I read it. But never heard of it until now and it kind of embarrasses me.

 

[81usaf92]

Is it streaming somewhere?

CNN has the 1st 2 episodes. The last two come on this Sunday.

 

[Its On A Slab]

From what I remember of the Klan(early 1980s), they used to beg for money in Jackson MS. Standing at the stoplight at Hwy 80 and Robinson Road.

With the fact that there was a full set of teeth among 5-6 of them, I would think they didn't have enough wealth to be bankrupted from.

 

[TexasBama]

I was living in Mobile in 1981 and don’t remember this. Will have to watch.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

From what I remember of the Klan(early 1980s), they used to beg for money in Jackson MS. Standing at the stoplight at Hwy 80 and Robinson Road.

With the fact that there was a full set of teeth among 5-6 of them, I would think they didn't have enough wealth to be bankrupted from.

More locations than that - state road 117 and 40 also, a 4-way stop...

 

[Its On A Slab]

More locations than that - state road 117 and 40 also, a 4-way stop...

Randy(ValuJet) and went to high school together at one of those segregationist academies set up after the SC mandated desegregation. There were several kids there who had family members in the Klan. Some of the family members were in prison. A smattering of neo-Nazi kids, who would bring the literature and stickers to school.

 

[Crimson1967]

Randy(ValuJet) and went to high school together at one of those segregationist academies set up after the SC mandated desegregation. There were several kids there who had family members in the Klan. Some of the family members were in prison. A smattering of neo-Nazi kids, who would bring the literature and stickers to school.

Was the school affiliated with a church or describe itself as Christian?

I once went through several websites of private schools in Alabama. A lot seemed to be founded circa 1970. Hmm...

 

[jthomas666]

- Jeff Sessions looks really bad in it

That's pretty much a given.

 

[81usaf92]

Randy(ValuJet) and went to high school together at one of those segregationist academies set up after the SC mandated desegregation. There were several kids there who had family members in the Klan. Some of the family members were in prison. A smattering of neo-Nazi kids, who would bring the literature and stickers to school.

Ive only met one Klansman in my life, and I basically asked “ are you joking?” Ive met a few neo Nazis, but I’ve always thought the Klan was a dying organization that were just a few old men who couldn’t get with the 21st century. But after living in Nebraska I found out that they were very much still a thing.

 

[B1GTide]

Ive only met one Klansman in my life, and I basically asked “ are you joking?” Ive met a few neo Nazis, but I’ve always thought the Klan was a dying organization that were just a few old men who couldn’t get with the 21st century. But after living in Nebraska I found out that they were very much still a thing.

They are thriving in the Midwest.

 

[jthomas666]

Randy(ValuJet) and went to high school together at one of those segregationist academies set up after the SC mandated desegregation. There were several kids there who had family members in the Klan. Some of the family members were in prison. A smattering of neo-Nazi kids, who would bring the literature and stickers to school.

I graduated from an Alabama high school in the 80s. That year a freshman was going around showing off his new Klan membership card.

 

[J0eW]

I lived in Mobile at the time. Michael Donald was hung from a tree on Old Shell Road a couple of blocks from a friend's house. I believe the perps had beaten him to death or at least unconscious before the hanging. The perps were, I remember, two klansmen with an ax to grind and Donald just happened to be in the wrong place and the wrong time. A sad tale. I believe both of the perps got the death penalty. Well deserved. It was a big Southern Poverty Law Center early case.

I need to watch as memory dims over the years.

 

[crimsonaudio]

I met a (literal) card-carrying klansman once. He was quite honestly one of the least intelligent people I've ever met, and that was before he proudly told me he was klan member.

This was in about 1991 in central Florida. From what I can tell the klan doesn't have much traction there.

I'd be interested in seeing this.

 

[81usaf92]

I lived in Mobile at the time. Michael Donald was hung from a tree on Old Shell Road a couple of blocks from a friend's house. I believe the perps had beaten him to death or at least unconscious before the hanging. The perps were, I remember, two klansmen with an ax to grind and Donald just happened to be in the wrong place and the wrong time. A sad tale. I believe both of the perps got the death penalty. Well deserved. It was a big Southern Poverty Law Center early case.

I need to watch as memory dims over the years.

1 got the death penalty from the state and the other struck a deal with Sessions and is out of prison now. It was a deal to be tried federally for a civil rights violation instead of capital murder. It’s the only case in which a klansman was executed for killing a black man.

 

[81usaf92]

I met a (literal) card-carrying klansman once. He was quite honestly one of the least intelligent people I've ever met, and that was before he proudly told me he was klan member.

This was in about 1991 in central Florida. From what I can tell the klan doesn't have much traction there.

I'd be interested in seeing this.

When you have a narrow view on other people based on their skin, religion, and sexual orientation to the extent you feel that they shouldn’t exist you generally have low intelligence.

the klan has mostly moved to Arkansas, Missouri, and other primarily white mid western states. But I think they have mostly assimilated with the neo nazi movement and ditched their cloaks. Most of the south just laughs at them and tells them they are stupid it seems. For a while Illinois was the largest klan organization left. Yes Alabama and Mississippi has the most chapters (if you call them that) but they are relatively small compared to the ones in North Carolina and Illinois. There was a klan rally in Sylacauga in the 90’s and everyone was on edge about it and they beefed up the police presence. There were only like 10 old men that showed up.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I met a (literal) card-carrying klansman once. He was quite honestly one of the least intelligent people I've ever met, and that was before he proudly told me he was klan member.

This was in about 1991 in central Florida. From what I can tell the klan doesn't have much traction there.

I'd be interested in seeing this.

Back around 1960, I had watermelon with the Grand Dragon. It's a long story...

 

[J0eW]

1 got the death penalty from the state and the other struck a deal with Sessions and is out of prison now. It was a deal to be tried federally for a civil rights violation instead of capital murder. It’s the only case in which a klansman was executed for killing a black man.

Thanks for the update. Time dims an old man's memory.

 

[J0eW]

Back around 1960, I had watermelon with the Grand Dragon. It's a long story...

Was that Grand Dragon Robert Shelton? One of my fraternity brothers dated his daughter.