Jack's Childhood Ku Klux Klan Incident

Ku Klux Klan match on Washington 1925 20-40,000 people.

Jack says that when he was three years old the Ku Klux Klan burned a cross on his dad's front lawn.  He saw it all from across the street where he was staying in his cousin's house. This was one of the most frightening experiences in his life. The Ku Klux Klan was very active in Southern California during this period.  They targeted Catholics, and Jack's family was Catholic.  Also, his dad, Harold Leddy, was a lawyer who sometimes ran for judge.  This would be 1925.  Jack was living in Pasadena. Other cities in the L.A. area were noted for the Ku Klux Klan presence, for example Inglewood and Anaheim. Wikipedia says that "On February 20, 1925, it was reported that the 'Ku Klux Klan element' in Inglewood was supporting the recall of five city trustees (council members) in an attack on Street Superintendent O.O. Farmer 'because of the employment in his office and field force of men who are not yet American citizens.'" (Anti-immigrant sentiment is no new thing!) Another source says that "the Klan decided to make Anaheim, California, into a model Klan city; it secretly took over the city council, but was voted out in a special recall election" En.Citizendium.org

Ku Klux Klan in Anaheim California, 1924

Here is an account of the Anaheim takeover from the Anaheim Police Department History "Through the election, the unsuspecting populace placed the KKK in a position to effectively take control of city government. Many city employees wisely chose to resign their employment with the city. However, nine of the ten officers on the Anaheim Police force, including Chief Moody, chose to retain their jobs and sided with the Klan. The Klan spread their messages to the townspeople entering into the city. The letters  'K.I.G.Y.' (Klansmen I greet you) were visible to all entering Anaheim as the letters were painted on the pavement entrances to the city. Anaheim temporarily and jokingly became referred to as 'Klanaheim.' Although the Klan claimed a large Anaheim membership, it is believed that the total Anaheim membership never exceeded 300. The Klan, who restricted its membership to Protestants, centered its cause on Puritanism, calling for the strict enforcement of prohibition laws. The KKK of Southern California did not make race a major issue, but instead centered their wrath against local churches. The Klan attempted to tie drunkenness and lawlessness as a conspiracy by the Catholics. Klan parades and public demonstrations were common to Anaheim in 1924. On at least one occasion, Anaheim Policemen had been seen directing traffic while wearing their white robes and hoods. When crosses were burned in town, Klansmen were stationed on top of nearby buildings ready to shoot anyone who attempted to extinguish the fiery cross. In August of 1924, a large nighttime initiation rally was held at City Park, now known as Pearson Park. The rally was the largest Klan rally ever held in California at the time. It was attended by an estimated 10,000 people, some from as far away as San Bernardino and San Diego. The townspeople of Anaheim would only tolerate so much. On February 3, 1925, a successful recall election was held by the citizens of Anaheim to oust the four Klan-affiliated City Trustees."  This report confirms that Catholics were special targets of the Klan in the Southern California area and that crosses were burned.