Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Ron Stallworth, Police Sergeant, Chronicles His Experience As Undercover KKK Member

Ron Stallworth, Police Sergeant, Chronicles His Experience As Undercover KKK Member: Despite the Ku Klux Klan's haunting history, one black police sergeant risked his life to go undercover as a "Black Klansman."

In 1979, Colorado Springs police investigator Ron Stallworth called the number from KKK newspaper ad on a whim in the hopes of gathering information. What he didn't expect was to be offered a membership, and eventually an invitation to lead the local KKK chapter for being perceived as a "loyal and dedicated" member of the notorious organization.

Throughout his year operating as an undercover member, Stallworth corresponded with the Klan leadership regularly on the phone -- which included speaking with former grand wizard, David Duke. When his physical presence was required, he would send a fellow detective in his place, a friend and narcotic detective Stallworth said he liked to call "the white Ron Stallworth."