The Northwest Enterprise

K. K.K. Terrorization Of Negro Residents of Alabama Continues

PHOENIX CITY. Ala. (Special) -With brutal beatings of Negroes by members of the Ku Klux Klan and night riding gangs occurring throughout Russel county nightly without molestation from constituted authorities, long suffering citizens have come to the conclusion a loaded revolver is their best method of protection and, as such, are rapidly taking steps to safeguard their homes and families.

A current report deals with the burning of a cross in front of the home of a Negro girl in the 'Sugartown' section of Phoenix City. Several nights later there was a rap on her door. Responding, the girl came to the door, was seized, dragged down the steps and put into a waiting automobile by several hooded men who drove away.

When the girl did not return the next day, neighbors became alarmed and notified police.

Next morning about daybreak a mysterious car drove up to a curb in a white residential section, threw the girl unceremoniously upon the sidewalk and cruised leisurely away. She was barely breathing and an examination revealed her condition as serious from a terrific beating administered with a thick belt.

Two Dead Women

A day or so later, another report goes, some fishermen discovered the lifeless bodies of two more colored women on the banks of Uchee Creek, their bodies bearing evidences of savage beatings. Phoenix City authorities have no written report of such a discovery. They did make known the finding of the body of a Negro man in a shallow ditch partially filled with water but were inclined to believe he had been slain in a card game and are working along that theory.

There is a section in Phoenix City called "Stillwell's Quarters." Here a large portion of the local Negro population is herded into rotted down shacks on streets that are not drained by sewerage, that smell to the high heavens of garbage seldom collected and where tall weeds grow with reckless abandon.

Shortly before midnight, several nights ago, a dozen cars of Ku Klux Klansmen drove into Stillwell's Quarters. Robed occupants alighted. A large cross was produced and set afire. As flames illuminated the surroundings, a tall figure stepped into the circle of sheeted invaders and boomed out a little speech.

"Listen here, you N....., all of you," the K.K.K. leader shouted, "there's a few things I want to tell you right now. You all know what we are doing here tonight. We're down here on business. We have had too many complaints from white folks about how you damn N.. is been cuttin' the fool and it's got to stop got to stop right now, or else!"

"This cross is being burned here tonight," he continued, "for a little warning to each and everyone of you. There's been too much cussin' when white folks was walking down the streets of this heah quarter, too much liquor drinkin' fightin', and hell raising in general.

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K.K.K. TERROR
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It's got to stop, it's got to stop, I tell you, and right now, too."
"Now, we don't wanna hafta come back down heah," he concluded, "cause if we do, we gonna take about a dozen of you g......... N......... out in the woods and flog hel outtin' you. You all done heard me so mind your 'p's and q's' or get ready to take some durn bad medicine!"
Faces were pressed against every window pane when the demonstration concluded and Klansmen drove with the same quietness characterizing their arrival.
Ten years ago when K.K.K. was at the height of its power in this section, lawlessness on the part of members was occurring nightly as it is today. A poor farmer was aroused from sleep and dragged from his home into a swamp and beaten for no announced reason.
Relatives of the victim learned of the fate of their kinsman a few minutes after he was taken away. Arming themselves, they followed.
While the flogging was in progress two shotguns thundered from thick clumps of bushes. Shot rained into the midst of the hoodlums and two members fell dead. The beating stopped abruptly and Klansmen, displaying their cowardice, turned tail and made remarkable use of their running facilities.