Residents Report KKK Recruitment Effort

The Traditionalist American Knights targeted Ladson and Hanahan neighborhoods for recruitment efforts last weekend, but authorities say no laws were broken.

The Knights are a part of the Klu Klux Klan, and the fliers urged residents to "Save Our Land; Join the Klan." 

Berkeley County deputies responded Nov. 27 near College Park, where residents reported recruitment fliers after a vandalism report was filed by Eddie Shepard, who is black. 

Shepard alleged that, in addition to the fliers, his mailbox was vandalized at around 1 a.m. While at the scene, deputies talked to Shepard and neighbors who gave details on the fliers that appeared in their driveways and lawns. 

Hanahan police officers responded to two complaints about fliers showing up in two Hanahan neighborhoods Nov. 26 and 27. Both complainants were listed as white.

"There's no law against throwing fliers out in someone's driveway," Berkeley County Sheriff PIO Dan Moon said. "Looks to me that people are trying to recruit for the Klan."

The fliers were put in plastic bags and weighted with rocks, according to reports. The rocks were not heavy, but there to add weight to make for better tossing, Moon said.

In the Ladson incident report, deputies noted visible damage to Shepard's mailbox, including a small dent and a missing flag. 

Shepard did not respond to Patch requests to interview him, but Moon said that while the fliers and the mailbox incident probably occurred at the same time, he did not think the vandalism was intentional. 

Moon said residents, both white and black, in the Ladson neighborhood reported receiving the fliers. One Ladson witness said he saw a car driving slowly through the neighborhood after hearing a loud noise.

In Hanahan, an officer tailed a suspicious vehicle tossing fliers Nov. 26, and wrote in a report that it belonged to a resident that lives off Tall Pines Road in Ladson.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center's "Hate Map," the only Klu Klux Klan group close to the Charleston area is the National Knights of the Klu Klux Klan in Warrenville, more than two hours away. The Traditional American Knights, which allegedly tossed the fliers, are not listed in the state.

The Charleston region is home to three believed hate groups, according to the map: White Nationalist group Patriotic Flags of Summerville, White Nationalist group Council of Conservative Citizens of Charleston and Black Separatist group Nation of Islam of Charleston, according to the law center.

According to incident records with the center, the most recent "hate" act in Ladson occurred in 2009, when three juveniles spray-painted racial slurs on a family's garage door.

The law center did not respond to interview requests on whether or not the KKK had increased recruitment efforts or presence in the Charleston area. However, Moon said the fliers have shown up elsewhere in the tri-county area.

Dorchester County Sheriff PIO Maj. John Garrison said that while deputies were not notified, he had heard a Ridgeville neighborhood had received fliers but could not confirm it. 

Since distributing fliers is within a group or individual's first amendment right, likely no reports have been made from other Lowcountry communities.

"We may abhor the message but as long as they're not violating the law we think it's really important to protect the right to freedom in this country," American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina Executive Director Victoria Middleton said. 

She added that more free speech is the best way to counteract "hateful" speech, and that like the Westboro Baptist Church visiting the Lowcountry in 2010, this could serve as a catalyst for community dialog. Anti-gay Westboro Church is known for protesting military funerals. 

According to the Traditionalist American Knights website, the organization stands for white supremacy but is "not a hate group" and operates within the law. 

The vandalism case remains open in Berkeley County and residents were urged to report any suspicious activity. The Hanahan complaint cases are closed, according to reports.