An advertisement that appeared in the Lykens Standard of September 4, 1925, for the Ku Klux Klan Day and Parade in Harrisburg on Labor Day, 1925. As was later shown from news articles describing the event after it occurred, both Lykens and Williamstown sent large contingents of their Klan members to participate in what turned out to be one of the largest Klan demonstrations in Central Pennsylvania with estimates of 25,000 to 30,000 persons attending.
This event was held concurrent with openly racist, intimidating and violent acts attributed to the Ku Klux Klan, locally, regionally and nationally, and multiple investigations that were launched into the legitimacy of the organization and the exposing of its violent nature. One week following this Harrisburg event, the Pennsylvania Klan leader who was the main speaker was arrested for embezzlement and at the same time a “ring” of American Klansmen supposedly supported by the Klan’s Imperial Wizard were arrested in Germany for attempting to start the hate group there with the aim of purging Jews from German society.
It is difficult to believe that so many in the Lykens Valley supported the Ku Klux Klan considering the access to information about what they really stood for. By finding articles describing Klan events, it is possible to identify Klan members and supporters, and by researching them and their lives, to draw some conclusions as to why they participated without questioning the legal, moral and ethical aspects of what they were doing.
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K. K. K. DAY & PARADE IN HARRISBURG ON LABOR DAY
Monster Field Day and Parade
For Klansmen, Klanswomen, Juniors and Krusaders
of Pennsylvania and surrounding states
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BANDS, DRILLS, EATS, NATIONAL SPEAKERS, FUN ALL DAY
Bring your bathing suits. Bathing at Harrisburg’s famous concrete bathing beach.
Silver Loving Cup to the best drilled Klavaliers
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BIG FIREWORKS DISPLAY!
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Kreep, krawk, walk, ride or fly! Be there Pennsylvanians!!
Let’s show the Capital City our strength.
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LOCATION:
ISLAND PARK in the Susquehanna River opposite Harrisburg
Take Market or Walnut Street Bridge from wither side of river.
Good parking and shelter — an ideal spot.
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Admission 25 cents for each adult male. Women and children free.
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Municipal Tourists’ Camp on Island. Bring your tent.
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For information inquire at County Office, Room 410, Ebner Building, Second and Locust Street. For Hotel Reservations address P. O. Box 1202, Harrisburg
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ALL DAY LABOR DAY
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News clipping from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.