Shadows of Authority: The Klan, Law Enforcement, and Racial Oppression

This chapter examines the complex motivations of individuals during the Civil War and the evolving role of the Ku Klux Klan in American society. It investigates significant events surrounding federal responses to Klan violence and the dark intertwining of law enforcement with white supremacy. The narrative highlights the historical origins of policing in the context of systemic racism, focusing on how the Klan embedded itself within local politics and law enforcement in the early 20th century.