The KKK in Colorado
In 1921 the KKK expanded to Colorado. The Klan in Colorado was very powerful; people paid a $10 initiation fee and another $15 for a white hood and robe. Colorado had 55,000 Klan members (set up in Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Boulder, Grand Junction and Cañon City. Denver's chapter boasted 17,000 members). On June 17, 1921 KKK in CO introduced itself in The Denver Times. Many of the minorities spoke out against the Klan in some of the smaller newspapers, but Denver's major papers completely ignored the subject and stayed silent.
The Klan controlled both political parties, and preyed on local prejudices and divisions. In 1925, Klan members controlled the Colorado State House and Senate, the office of Secretary of State, a state Supreme Court judgeship, seven benches on Denver District Court, and city councils in some Colorado towns. The Colorado Klan of the 1920's had its primary targets against Roman Catholic immigrants, especially Italians. The KKK in Colorado seemed to be less violent than other chapters. The KKK controlled legislators who introduced many proposals including firing all Catholics and Jews on the University of Colorado faculty.
The Klan controlled both political parties, and preyed on local prejudices and divisions. In 1925, Klan members controlled the Colorado State House and Senate, the office of Secretary of State, a state Supreme Court judgeship, seven benches on Denver District Court, and city councils in some Colorado towns. The Colorado Klan of the 1920's had its primary targets against Roman Catholic immigrants, especially Italians. The KKK in Colorado seemed to be less violent than other chapters. The KKK controlled legislators who introduced many proposals including firing all Catholics and Jews on the University of Colorado faculty.
The Ku Klux Klan had no presence in Colorado in 1920. By 1925, Klan members and sponsored candidates controlled the Colorado State House and Senate, the office of Secretary of State, a state Supreme Court judgeship, seven benches on Denver District Court, and city councils in some Colorado towns. Mayor Ben Stapleton of Denver and Governor Clarence Morley of Colorado were also Klansmen. The Klan was stronger in Colorado than any other state. On June 17th, 1921: The KKK introduced itself into The Denver Times. The Klan started off by targeting Blacks, and preventing them from enjoying their basic civil rights. It then started targeting other religious groups, such as Catholics and Jews. The KKK also controlled legislators who introduced many proposals: including firing all Catholics and Jews on the University of Colorado faculty. Soon enough, they also started targeting people by race. Because people started to notice that the KKK was starting to abuse their First Amendment right, the KKK decided to prove itself true to their "Americanism". The KKK went into a Church in Denver during a hymn, and gave $25 to the Reverend along with a letter. The letter stated the Klan was only trying to express itself, saying it supported AMERICANISM; not other forms of cultures in the U.S.
