A group of Ku Klux Klansmen and Klanswomen numbering just under 200, and all in full Klan regalia, turned out in support of a wedding in Shamokin, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania in 1928 which was said to be “one of the most colorful ever witnessed there.”
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From Mount Carmel Item, June 28, 1928:
K. K. K. WEDDING IN SHAMOKIN LAST NIGHT
Agnes Schlagel, Shamokin, and Lester Deitrich of Mount Carmel Wed
Preceded to the altar by a guard of six uniformed men and a phalanx of twelve uniformed knights and ladies of the Ku Klux Klan and followed by over 150 knights and ladies all in full regalia, Miss Agnes Mae Schlagel, Shamokin, and Lester Deitrick, of Mount Carmel, were united in marriage at 8:30 o’clock last night in the Sons of Veterans Hall, Shamokin, by Rev. Carl Schlichter, pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Church, at that place.
About 150 members of the Klan met last night in an ante room of the hall and were all attired in regulation regalia designating membership of the order. It was the first marriage of its kind in Shamokin and proved to be one of the most colorful ever witnessed there.
Mrs. Deitrich is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Schlagel, Shamokin, while her husband is a son of George Deitrick, Mount Carmel, and a grandson of former justice of the Peace Levi Deitrick.
The newlyweds left on a honeymoon and upon their return they will reside at Kulpmont.
This post is a continuation of the reporting on hate groups that were active in the Lykens Valley area. It was a widely known fact that the Ku Klux Klan had a significant presence in the Lykens Valley and adjacent valleys during the early years of the 20th Century. This iteration of the Klan was strongly white supremacist and was opposed to equal rights for African Americans, Catholics, Jews, and immigrants.
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News article from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.
What do you think you will accomplish by digging up racism?
Without history, we are doomed to repeat it.. what some people do not realize is that slavery and racism have been around around since the beginning of the homosapiens.