Bill Wilkinson (Ku Klux Klan)
Bill Wilkinson | |
|---|---|
 Depiction of Wilkinson, 1970s | |
| Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan | |
| In office 1975–1984 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Elbert Claude Wilkinson 1942 (age 81–82) Louisiana, U.S. |
| Occupation |
|
Bill Wilkinson (born Elbert Claude Wilkinson; 1942) is an American Christian Identity pastor,[1] social activist, and businessman; he served as Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan from 1975 to 1984, during which time he was accordingly involved in the promotion of white nationalist and segregationist ideologies.
Background
[edit]Bill Wilkinson was born in 1942[1] as Elbert Claude Wilkinson. Having grown up in Denham Springs, Louisiana, he would eventually rise to lead a local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, ultimately achieving national influence.[2]
Ku Klux Klan
[edit]In the 1970s, Wilkinson became affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan, later rising to prominence upon becoming Imperial Wizard of the institution in 1975.[2]
He was said to have followed David Duke's lead in "recruiting youth to the Klan," nonetheless he would take this campaign even more seriously, exemplified with the case of his founding of a camp for children in which they would be trained with arms and learn about the qualities of white nationalism. One of the incidents perpetrated by these indoctrinated children occurred in 1979, when a "dozen teenagers" wore Invisible Empire T-shirts, burning a school of advanced age to the ground, all supposedly while the adult Klansmen applauded.[3]
Later that year, Wilkinson, alongside his men, went to Decatur, Alabama, to confront a parade advocating for the acquittal of Tommy Lee Hines, a local black man who was charged with the rape of three white women.[4] This altercation would lead to the deaths of two black attendees, along with two of Wilkinson's own men; his Grand Dragon in Alabama consequently faced indictment for civil rights violations.[3]
In February 1981, Wilkinson traveled to Windsor Locks, Connecticut, to attend a rally supporting Meriden police officer Gene Hale, who was involved in the fatal shooting of Keith Rakestrau, a 24-year-old black man. The rally aimed to promote "law and order," with some attendees potentially wearing Klan robes, although without plans for a cross-burning. Counter-demonstrations were organized by the NAACP and other groups in response to the Klan's presence.[5]
In 1982, Wilkinson appeared on a CNN Crossfire interview with Tom Braden and Pat Buchanan, in which they debated over matters pertaining to sociology and politics.[6]
In 1984, his title was relinquished, gradually fading from the public spotlight thereafter.[2]
Later years
[edit]Sometime in the mid-to-late 1980s, Wilkinson was said to have immigrated to Belize, subsequently establishing a seaside resort of considerable worth there. In 2002, he was mentioned in an article from the Belizean newspaper, San Pedro Sun; the reference reads the following:
Like a true San Pedrano, Bill has lived those years unselfishly and continues to do so day after day, doing his part to provide security and shelter…[2]
As of January 2014, Wilkinson still resides in the Belize, and has remained firm in his prejudiced stance regarding race.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Wilkinson, Bill, 1942- | Kenneth Spencer Research Library Archival Collections". archives.lib.ku.edu. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
- ^ a b c d e "Former KKK Imperial Wizard in Belize | Amandala Newspaper". amandala.com.bz. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
- ^ a b Bullard, Sara (June 1998). The Ku Klux Klan: A History of Racism and Violence. DIANE Publishing. pp. 32–35, 49–50. ISBN 978-0-7881-7031-7.
- ^ "Tommy Lee Hines arriving for his trial at the Cullman County courthouse in Cullman, Alabama". Umbra Search African American History. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
- ^ "Ku Klux Klan leader Bill Wilkinson arrived in Connecticut... - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
- ^ 1982: Grand Wizard defends KKK policy | CNN. 2013-09-23. Retrieved 2024-10-14 – via www.cnn.com.