Robert Shelton (klan member)
Encyclopedia
Robert M. Shelton was a former car-tire salesman who became nationally famous as the Grand Wizard of United Klans of America
(UKA), a Ku Klux Klan
group.
Shelton served as the UKA leader starting in 1961, which peaked with an estimated 30,000. In 1966 Shelton received a year in prison and $1,000 fine for contempt of the United States Congress
, "for refusing to turn over membership lists to the House Committee on Un-American Activities."
Four UKA members in 1963 firebombed the 16th Street Baptist Church
, killing four young black girls in Birmingham, Alabama
. The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing
became one of the most notorious events in the civil rights struggle
.
In 1984 James Knowles, a UKA member of the UKA's Klavern 900 in Mobile, was convicted of the 1981 murder of Michael Donald
. At trial Knowles said he and Henry Hays killed Donald "in order to show Klan strength in Alabama." In 1987 the Southern Poverty Law Center
(SPLC) brought a civil case, on behalf of the victim's family, against the United Klans of America for being responsible in the lynching of Donald, a 19-year-old black man. Unable to come up the $7 million awarded by a jury, the UKA was forced to turn over its national headquarters to Donald's mother, who then sold it. During the civil trial Knowles said he was "carrying out the orders" of Bennie Jack Hays, Henry Hays
' father and a long-time Shelton lieutenant.
In 1994, Shelton said, "The Klan is my belief, my religion. But it won't work anymore. The Klan is gone. Forever."
In the late 1960s, Shelton ran for Police Commissioner in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
. He finished in fifth place. He died of a heart attack in Tuscaloosa.
Robert M. Shelton (June 12, 1929 – March 17, 2003) was a former car-tire salesman who became nationally famous as the Grand Wizard of United Klans of America
(UKA), a Ku Klux Klan
group.
Shelton served as the UKA leader starting in 1961, which peaked with an estimated 30,000. In 1966 Shelton received a year in prison and $1,000 fine for contempt of the United States Congress
, "for refusing to turn over membership lists to the House Committee on Un-American Activities."
Four UKA members in 1963 firebombed the 16th Street Baptist Church
, killing four young black girls in Birmingham, Alabama
. The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing
became one of the most notorious events in the civil rights struggle
.
In 1984 James Knowles, a UKA member of the UKA's Klavern 900 in Mobile, was convicted of the 1981 murder of Michael Donald
. At trial Knowles said he and Henry Hays killed Donald "in order to show Klan strength in Alabama." In 1987 the Southern Poverty Law Center
(SPLC) brought a civil case, on behalf of the victim's family, against the United Klans of America for being responsible in the lynching of Donald, a 19-year-old black man. Unable to come up the $7 million awarded by a jury, the UKA was forced to turn over its national headquarters to Donald's mother, who then sold it. During the civil trial Knowles said he was "carrying out the orders" of Bennie Jack Hays, Henry Hays
' father and a long-time Shelton lieutenant.
In 1994, Shelton said, "The Klan is my belief, my religion. But it won't work anymore. The Klan is gone. Forever."
In the late 1960s, Shelton ran for Police Commissioner in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
. He finished in fifth place. He died of a heart attack in Tuscaloosa.
Robert M. Shelton (June 12, 1929 – March 17, 2003) was a former car-tire salesman who became nationally famous as the Grand Wizard of United Klans of America
(UKA), a Ku Klux Klan
group.
Shelton served as the UKA leader starting in 1961, which peaked with an estimated 30,000. In 1966 Shelton received a year in prison and $1,000 fine for contempt of the United States Congress
, "for refusing to turn over membership lists to the House Committee on Un-American Activities."
Four UKA members in 1963 firebombed the 16th Street Baptist Church
, killing four young black girls in Birmingham, Alabama
. The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing
became one of the most notorious events in the civil rights struggle
.
In 1984 James Knowles, a UKA member of the UKA's Klavern 900 in Mobile, was convicted of the 1981 murder of Michael Donald
. At trial Knowles said he and Henry Hays killed Donald "in order to show Klan strength in Alabama." In 1987 the Southern Poverty Law Center
(SPLC) brought a civil case, on behalf of the victim's family, against the United Klans of America for being responsible in the lynching of Donald, a 19-year-old black man. Unable to come up the $7 million awarded by a jury, the UKA was forced to turn over its national headquarters to Donald's mother, who then sold it. During the civil trial Knowles said he was "carrying out the orders" of Bennie Jack Hays, Henry Hays
' father and a long-time Shelton lieutenant.
In 1994, Shelton said, "The Klan is my belief, my religion. But it won't work anymore. The Klan is gone. Forever."
In the late 1960s, Shelton ran for Police Commissioner in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
. He finished in fifth place. He died of a heart attack in Tuscaloosa.
United Klans of America
United Klans of America Inc. was one of the largest Ku Klux Klan organizations in the United States. Led by Robert Shelton, the UKA peaked in popularity in the late 1960s and 1970s, and was the most violent Klan organization of its time. Its headquarters were the Anglo-Saxon Club outside...
(UKA), a Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
group.
Shelton served as the UKA leader starting in 1961, which peaked with an estimated 30,000. In 1966 Shelton received a year in prison and $1,000 fine for contempt of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, "for refusing to turn over membership lists to the House Committee on Un-American Activities."
Four UKA members in 1963 firebombed the 16th Street Baptist Church
16th Street Baptist Church
Sixteenth Street Baptist Church is a Baptist church in Birmingham, Alabama which is frequented predominately by African Americans. In September 1963, it was the target of the racially motivated 16th Street Baptist Church bombing that killed four girls in the midst of the American Civil Rights...
, killing four young black girls in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing
16th Street Baptist Church bombing
The 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama was bombed on Sunday, September 15, 1963. The explosion at the African-American church, which killed four girls, marked a turning point in the U.S...
became one of the most notorious events in the civil rights struggle
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
.
In 1984 James Knowles, a UKA member of the UKA's Klavern 900 in Mobile, was convicted of the 1981 murder of Michael Donald
Michael Donald
Michael Donald was a young African American man who was murdered by two Ku Klux Klan members in Mobile, Alabama, in 1981. The murder is sometimes referred to as the last recorded lynching in the United States.-Lynching:...
. At trial Knowles said he and Henry Hays killed Donald "in order to show Klan strength in Alabama." In 1987 the Southern Poverty Law Center
Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is an American nonprofit civil rights organization noted for its legal victories against white supremacist groups; legal representation for victims of hate groups; monitoring of alleged hate groups, militias and extremist organizations; and educational programs that...
(SPLC) brought a civil case, on behalf of the victim's family, against the United Klans of America for being responsible in the lynching of Donald, a 19-year-old black man. Unable to come up the $7 million awarded by a jury, the UKA was forced to turn over its national headquarters to Donald's mother, who then sold it. During the civil trial Knowles said he was "carrying out the orders" of Bennie Jack Hays, Henry Hays
Henry Francis Hays
Henry Francis Hays was a member of the Ku Klux Klan in Alabama, who was convicted and sentenced to death for a 1981 lynching-style murder of 19-year old African-American Michael Donald....
' father and a long-time Shelton lieutenant.
In 1994, Shelton said, "The Klan is my belief, my religion. But it won't work anymore. The Klan is gone. Forever."
In the late 1960s, Shelton ran for Police Commissioner in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
. He finished in fifth place. He died of a heart attack in Tuscaloosa.
External links
- United Klans of America History
- Endnotes: Robert Shelton Biography
- Photos of Robert Shelton from the Moncrief Photograph Collection at the Mississippi Archives
Robert M. Shelton (June 12, 1929 – March 17, 2003) was a former car-tire salesman who became nationally famous as the Grand Wizard of United Klans of America
United Klans of America
United Klans of America Inc. was one of the largest Ku Klux Klan organizations in the United States. Led by Robert Shelton, the UKA peaked in popularity in the late 1960s and 1970s, and was the most violent Klan organization of its time. Its headquarters were the Anglo-Saxon Club outside...
(UKA), a Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
group.
Shelton served as the UKA leader starting in 1961, which peaked with an estimated 30,000. In 1966 Shelton received a year in prison and $1,000 fine for contempt of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, "for refusing to turn over membership lists to the House Committee on Un-American Activities."
Four UKA members in 1963 firebombed the 16th Street Baptist Church
16th Street Baptist Church
Sixteenth Street Baptist Church is a Baptist church in Birmingham, Alabama which is frequented predominately by African Americans. In September 1963, it was the target of the racially motivated 16th Street Baptist Church bombing that killed four girls in the midst of the American Civil Rights...
, killing four young black girls in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing
16th Street Baptist Church bombing
The 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama was bombed on Sunday, September 15, 1963. The explosion at the African-American church, which killed four girls, marked a turning point in the U.S...
became one of the most notorious events in the civil rights struggle
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
.
In 1984 James Knowles, a UKA member of the UKA's Klavern 900 in Mobile, was convicted of the 1981 murder of Michael Donald
Michael Donald
Michael Donald was a young African American man who was murdered by two Ku Klux Klan members in Mobile, Alabama, in 1981. The murder is sometimes referred to as the last recorded lynching in the United States.-Lynching:...
. At trial Knowles said he and Henry Hays killed Donald "in order to show Klan strength in Alabama." In 1987 the Southern Poverty Law Center
Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is an American nonprofit civil rights organization noted for its legal victories against white supremacist groups; legal representation for victims of hate groups; monitoring of alleged hate groups, militias and extremist organizations; and educational programs that...
(SPLC) brought a civil case, on behalf of the victim's family, against the United Klans of America for being responsible in the lynching of Donald, a 19-year-old black man. Unable to come up the $7 million awarded by a jury, the UKA was forced to turn over its national headquarters to Donald's mother, who then sold it. During the civil trial Knowles said he was "carrying out the orders" of Bennie Jack Hays, Henry Hays
Henry Francis Hays
Henry Francis Hays was a member of the Ku Klux Klan in Alabama, who was convicted and sentenced to death for a 1981 lynching-style murder of 19-year old African-American Michael Donald....
' father and a long-time Shelton lieutenant.
In 1994, Shelton said, "The Klan is my belief, my religion. But it won't work anymore. The Klan is gone. Forever."
In the late 1960s, Shelton ran for Police Commissioner in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
. He finished in fifth place. He died of a heart attack in Tuscaloosa.
External links
- United Klans of America History
- Endnotes: Robert Shelton Biography
- Photos of Robert Shelton from the Moncrief Photograph Collection at the Mississippi Archives
Robert M. Shelton (June 12, 1929 – March 17, 2003) was a former car-tire salesman who became nationally famous as the Grand Wizard of United Klans of America
United Klans of America
United Klans of America Inc. was one of the largest Ku Klux Klan organizations in the United States. Led by Robert Shelton, the UKA peaked in popularity in the late 1960s and 1970s, and was the most violent Klan organization of its time. Its headquarters were the Anglo-Saxon Club outside...
(UKA), a Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
group.
Shelton served as the UKA leader starting in 1961, which peaked with an estimated 30,000. In 1966 Shelton received a year in prison and $1,000 fine for contempt of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, "for refusing to turn over membership lists to the House Committee on Un-American Activities."
Four UKA members in 1963 firebombed the 16th Street Baptist Church
16th Street Baptist Church
Sixteenth Street Baptist Church is a Baptist church in Birmingham, Alabama which is frequented predominately by African Americans. In September 1963, it was the target of the racially motivated 16th Street Baptist Church bombing that killed four girls in the midst of the American Civil Rights...
, killing four young black girls in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
. The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing
16th Street Baptist Church bombing
The 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama was bombed on Sunday, September 15, 1963. The explosion at the African-American church, which killed four girls, marked a turning point in the U.S...
became one of the most notorious events in the civil rights struggle
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
.
In 1984 James Knowles, a UKA member of the UKA's Klavern 900 in Mobile, was convicted of the 1981 murder of Michael Donald
Michael Donald
Michael Donald was a young African American man who was murdered by two Ku Klux Klan members in Mobile, Alabama, in 1981. The murder is sometimes referred to as the last recorded lynching in the United States.-Lynching:...
. At trial Knowles said he and Henry Hays killed Donald "in order to show Klan strength in Alabama." In 1987 the Southern Poverty Law Center
Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is an American nonprofit civil rights organization noted for its legal victories against white supremacist groups; legal representation for victims of hate groups; monitoring of alleged hate groups, militias and extremist organizations; and educational programs that...
(SPLC) brought a civil case, on behalf of the victim's family, against the United Klans of America for being responsible in the lynching of Donald, a 19-year-old black man. Unable to come up the $7 million awarded by a jury, the UKA was forced to turn over its national headquarters to Donald's mother, who then sold it. During the civil trial Knowles said he was "carrying out the orders" of Bennie Jack Hays, Henry Hays
Henry Francis Hays
Henry Francis Hays was a member of the Ku Klux Klan in Alabama, who was convicted and sentenced to death for a 1981 lynching-style murder of 19-year old African-American Michael Donald....
' father and a long-time Shelton lieutenant.
In 1994, Shelton said, "The Klan is my belief, my religion. But it won't work anymore. The Klan is gone. Forever."
In the late 1960s, Shelton ran for Police Commissioner in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
. He finished in fifth place. He died of a heart attack in Tuscaloosa.