USA: JASPER: KU KLUX KLAN RALLY ENDS IN SCUFFLES (2)

Описание: (28 Jun 1998) English/Nat

A rally by the Ku Klux Klan in Jasper, Texas, has ended with a scuffle between Klan members and black militants.

Police say several militants began rocking one of five vehicles carrying Klan members.

About 20 Klansmen gathered in the town where a black man was
dragged to his death two-and-a half weeks ago, allegedly by three whites.

The Ku Klux Klan began its rally in the small Texan town of Jasper on Saturday.

About 20 Klansmen, dressed in their traditional white hooded garments were at the rally.

They were surrounded by a cordon of police.

They denounced the recent dragging to death of a black man in the Texan town -- despite espousing white supremacist views.

The rally comes two-and-a-half weeks after three men were arrested for brutally beating James Byrd Junior and then chaining him to the back of a pick-up truck and dragging him to his death.

The death of James Byrd Junior has served as a wake-up call to racial violence across the U-S.

Many residents say they don't want racial tensions coming into their town.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"As a community we're all coming together. I mean, no one wants any of this. We don't want any of this and I this town with overcome this, I really do; because we're a very close-knit family. I mean, community, we really are. There's whites, blacks, all down this street here. Nobody bothers anybody, we all get along, get out in the yard, we talk."
SUPER CAPTION: Lonnie Lewis, Jasper resident

Before the K-K-K rally began, some members of the New Black Panther Party marched through the area, chanting "black power."

They warned of violence if there are problems for blacks.

But the Klansmen were here with their message.

UPSOUND: (English)
"It's time to raise our heads, be proud we're white and quit apologising. We need to quit apologising for being white."

Tension came when the rally ended in a scuffle between Klan members and black militants and the arrest of at least one person.

Authorities say several militants began rocking one of the five vehicles carrying Klan members, while officers in riot gear blocked the militants' way.

There were two arrests for disorderly conduct.

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