Anaheim’s KKK City Council Recall: A Tale of Resilience and Transformation
The memory of a city’s dark past can linger, casting a shadow over its present. Every time I visit my dad in Anaheim, I drive up Harbor Boulevard past Pearson Park. The crown jewel of the city’s public spaces holds many memories for me, good and bad. Its large pool, where my dad taught my sister and me how to swim. The tennis courts, where my high school friends and I tried to channel our inner Andre Agassi. The dense cactus garden, where I played hide-and-go-seek and often ended up pricked by the sharp needles. These are the pieces of a personal history intertwined with the broader narrative of Anaheim’s complex past.
In July 1924, Pearson Park was the site of a rally that attracted over 20,000 people, hosted by the Ku Klux Klan. This event marked one of the largest Klan gatherings ever held west of the Mississippi. The Orange County Plain Dealer reported on the spectacle of a 30-foot burning cross surrounded by smaller ones, with biplanes flying overhead, illuminating the night sky with electric lights in the shape of a fiery cross and the letters “KKK.” New Klan members were initiated in a ceremony that combined solemnity and celebration, complete with a marching band.
This rally was not an isolated incident but part of a larger resurgence of the Klan in the 1920s, a period marked by xenophobia and bigotry. In Anaheim, the Klan had secured a majority in the city council, reflecting a broader trend of Klan influence in Orange County politics. However, the Klan’s grip on power was not to last.
Resistance and Redemption: The Fight Against the Klan
Local business owners and community members in Anaheim banded together to form an anti-Klan group, organizing resistance efforts against the Klan’s influence. A whistleblower obtained the membership rolls of the Orange County KKK, revealing that nine out of 10 members of the Anaheim police department and all four councilmembers were Klan members. District Attorneys from Orange and Fresno Counties openly criticized the Klan, outing members in newspaper ads and public speeches. The Anaheim Bulletin and the Anaheim Gazette played crucial roles in exposing Klan members and urging residents to vote out the racist councilmembers.
These collective efforts culminated in the successful recall of the four Klan councilmembers, marking a turning point in Anaheim’s history. The Klan’s reign at City Hall lasted a mere nine months, a testament to the power of community action and solidarity in the face of hate and prejudice.
Lessons for Today: Resilience and Reflection
The story of Anaheim’s struggle against the Klan serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring fight against tyranny and white supremacy. While the Klan’s influence may have waned, echoes of that dark chapter persist in the city’s history. Discriminatory practices, such as segregated swimming pools and schools, continued well after the Klan’s expulsion from office, highlighting the deep-rooted nature of systemic racism.
Even in recent years, Anaheim has grappled with the resurgence of hate groups, as evidenced by a violent “White Lives Matter” rally at Pearson Park in 2016. The city’s ongoing battle against bigotry underscores the importance of vigilance and collective action in confronting prejudice and injustice.
The legacy of Anaheim’s KKK City Council recall offers a poignant reflection on the enduring struggle for equality and justice. It serves as a reminder that the fight against hatred and discrimination is an ongoing endeavor, requiring vigilance, courage, and solidarity. As we look back on this pivotal moment in Anaheim’s history, we are called to confront the shadows of the past and strive towards a more inclusive and equitable future.
