Summary: | The Black man is pulling on a large wooden stake that the white man was attempting to hit him with. The march was organized by Robert Shelton, Imperial Wizard of the UKA. He and approximately 100 Klan members marched from city hall down Royal Street to Bienville Square and back to city hall. The marchers were prohibited from wearing robes and hoods, but they carried Confederate battle flags and United States flags. Many marchers also carried signs protesting a proposed state work release program and supporting district attorney Charles Graddick, who was a vocal opponent of the plan. A large crowd of mostly African American protesters met the marchers along Royal Street and in the square. Police attempted to keep the two groups apart, but some skirmishes broke out. Two African American protesters were arrested, including Donald Pinkney, an off-duty police officer.
|