Why The Klan Is Targeting Philly Area

The Klu Klux Klan is making a big push to add members in the Philadelphia area and Delaware. And it’s using the economy as a recruiting tool.

Our Claudia Gomez spoke with Pennsylvania Klan leader Ben Johnson, who says the Klan has changed and isn’t violent. We also spoke with a man called “John” who leads the New Castle branch of the Klan.

Both men credit the bad economy with their resurgence.

But Johnson still espouses some traditional Klan values.

“The Jews are running our country. The blacks have a ghetto in every city in the country. Noboby can deny that,” he said. “I’m not going to go out and burn churches, and go out and hand somebody … we want to try to do it politically.”

Johnson said the Klan’s goals are to become a family-oriented group and a political group.

In Delaware, the focus is on Latino immigrants.

“So people watch football games, I put up flyers,” said a Klan leader named “John” in Newport, Del.

He doesn’t put up crosses, though. “That was a totally different era.”
Johnson says he is stocking up on ammo just in case.

Barry Morrison from the Anti-Defamation League says the danger is the Klan is inspiring imitators who might be much more violent.

Morrison said the Klan is divided across the country and it doesn’t see sign of a local resurgence.

But two leaders she spoke with on Thursday say their numbers are growing.

"We have members in Philadelphia, members in Reading, members in Allentown, members in Royersford, we have members in Scranton, members in Wilkes-Barre. We have members in the western part of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, Dillsburg, York Pennsylvania. So I'm proud to say yeah, we are growing,” said Johnson.