Petition to ‘declare KKK a terrorist organization’ closes on target, Internet asks why hasn't Trump already done it
Popularly known as the KKK or the Klan, Ku Klux Klan is a white supremacist hate group that primarily targets African-Americans. The KKK has terrorized people since the 1870s and the terror has morphed into white nationalism, anti-immigration and anti-Catholicism. Recently, news surfaced that a man was recklessly driving his car through a group of protesters in Virginia was an "admitted leader of the Ku Klux Klan and a propagandist for Confederate ideology", according to the Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney. The man drove into protesters after revving up his engine and left one injured, however, authorities said he wasn't seriously injured.
No sooner did it surface on social media, people couldn't stop tweeting about the man — who has been identified as Harry Rogers, 36, and is charged with attempted malicious wounding, felony vandalism, assault and battery. The news circulated like wildfire and started a trend called "Declare the KKK a terrorist organization". It started with a tweet that read, "Declare the KKK a terrorist organization. Man who allegedly ran over protesters is an admitted leader of the Ku Klux Klan, Virginia officials say." Garnering over 6,800 retweets and 16,000 likes, it soon started the topic of why people still need to sign a petition to declare the KKK a terrorist organization? Why hadn't the government already done that? "You’re telling me that in the 21st century we still have to declare the KKK, the BIGGEST TERRORIST organization in the United States through petitioning??! Yet these racists were so quick to assume my Muslim brothers were terrorists?! What the hell is wrong with this country?" one tweet read.
Several social media users were outraged that in 2020 we still had to "declare" the KKK a "terrorist" organization. One said, "You mean that I need to sign a petition to ask the government to declare the KKK a terrorist organization? Why the f**k didn’t they do that already?" Another wrote, "Wait a sec... you're telling me there's a petition to sign so we can 'officially' declare the KKK a terrorist organization? What else do we have to do on our own... we did elect people to make obvious decisions for us, correct?" Many highlighted the racism it seeped into society. "The KKK is very much alive in the US, it has seeped into so many communities. The effects of its racist regime are still here. Declare the KKK as traitors to the US, terrorists, anything to ensure people are held accountable," one tweet read. Another said, "We need to declare the KKK a terrorist organization. It fits every single criterion. Name one positive contribution these racist a**hole murders have brought to America? They hide behind the 1A."
One even said, "In 2016, the Ku Klux Klan endorsed Donald Trump. They admire the way he pretends to disown them, a tactic they call 'wink wink wink'. Defeating slavery and Nazism are America's greatest victories. It is long past time to declare the KKK a terrorist organization." And another posted, "Declare the KKK a terrorist organization! Here’s why trump won’t. Cuts a large portion of his voting base off. His daddy was arrested defending the KKK at a rally in NY so it’s ingrained in him to defend them."
"I can’t believe we have to sign petitions to declare the KKK a terrorist organization that s**t should be automatic," one said and another went on to highlight why it won't be declared as one any time soon, openly tweeting: "The reason Trump won’t declare the KKK a terrorist organization is that he is the KKK." One said, "Donald Trump should Declare the KKK a terrorist group since he’s all about law and order. If black people were to wear black hoods, lynch & terrorizing people as well as setting fires, it would be a different story." Another wrote, "Did @realDonaldTrump declare the KKK a domestic terrorist group? HELL NAW! Did you call the KKK a terrorist group? What about the Proud Boys? What about Boogaloo? That's right; neither you nor trump would designate yourselves and your members as domestic terrorist."
Many brought in the Trump vs Barack Obama angle into it. "To those who would demand that President Trump declare the KKK a terrorist organization I have one nagging question: Where was all this energy when Obama was president? He had eight whole years to do this for the Black community. Why didn't y'all demand it then? I'll wait." One tweet concluded: "In the screwed up world we live in, the Trump Administration has declared ANTIFA a 'terrorist organization' but has failed to declare the KKK a 'terrorist organization'. The GOP is the party of racism and gaslighting."