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The Rise and Fall of the Ku Klux Klan in New Jersey
Authors Joseph Bilby and Harry Ziegler chart the brief rise of the Ku Klux Klan and how New Jersey collectively stood up to bigotry.
The state, though, was not immune to the reemergence of the Ku Klux Klan in the first half of the twentieth century. Former vaudevillians Arthur H. Bell and his wife used the tactics of public theater to advertise and recruit for the organization. At a massive riot in Perth Amboy, thousands of immigrants besieged a few hundred Klansmen, tossed them out of building windows, burned their cars and ran them out of town. The allying of pro-Nazi German Bund groups and the Klan in the lead-up to World War II marked the end of the Klan's foothold. Authors Joseph Bilby and Harry Ziegler chart the brief rise of the Ku Klux Klan and how New Jersey collectively stood up to bigotry.
The state, though, was not immune to the reemergence of the Ku Klux Klan in the first half of the twentieth century. Former vaudevillians Arthur H. Bell and his wife used the tactics of public theater to advertise and recruit for the organization. At a massive riot in Perth Amboy, thousands of immigrants besieged a few hundred Klansmen, tossed them out of building windows, burned their cars and ran them out of town. The allying of pro-Nazi German Bund groups and the Klan in the lead-up to World War II marked the end of the Klan's foothold. Authors Joseph Bilby and Harry Ziegler chart the brief rise of the Ku Klux Klan and how New Jersey collectively stood up to bigotry.
176 pages, Paperback
Published August 19, 2019
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About the author
Joseph G. Bilby
23 books5 followersJoseph G. Bilby is Assistant Curator of the National Guard Militia Museum of New Jersey. A graduate of Seton Hall University, he served as a lieutenant in the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. He has received the Jane Clayton Award for contributions to Monmouth County (New Jersey) history and an Award of Merit from the New Jersey Historical Commission for his contributions to the state's military history.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 24, 2022
I'm born and raised in New Jersey. I grabbed this because I love history books about my home state, but this was awful. No, not the writing. I found that wonderful and fact-filled. The subject matter itself. Even though this history is a hundred years ago or more, it still shines an awful light on our racism, bigotry and awfulness as people. I will be reading many more books from the authors and very soon!
May 17, 2022
This book takes place in my home state and the irony of the places this group were active was not lost on me. It was a steady read and I appreciated the historic photos. It was interesting to learn how the leaders of this organization (circa 1920s-40s) were not-too-bright, exaggerating megalomaniacs that couldn’t pay many of their bills despite their touted membership numbers. They attracted members/sympathizers whom were ignorant, full-of-fear and/or just outright opportunists (e.g., politicians) that dropped them like a hot potato once their needs were serviced or they suddenly deemed the affiliation as negative.
The great takeaway for me is that New Jersey and this organization were not “Perfect Together”…as our state tourism slogan proclaims. 😜 Seriously though, I’m proud that the people of NJ actively fought back and made the state an uneasy environment that largely contributed to the KKK’s failure.
The great takeaway for me is that New Jersey and this organization were not “Perfect Together”…as our state tourism slogan proclaims. 😜 Seriously though, I’m proud that the people of NJ actively fought back and made the state an uneasy environment that largely contributed to the KKK’s failure.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews