The long history of black voter suppression in American politics
By Philip Bump November 2 at 11:30 AM
In August 1922, the Topeka State Journal reported on an unusual voter suppression tactic. Members of the Ku Klux Klan reportedly flew over Oklahoma City, dropping cards into black neighborhoods warning people to be cautious before heading to the polls.
The KKK quarterly The Crusader ("The Premier Voice Of The White Resistance") devoted its latest front page to a throaty defense of Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan.
"You can see it on the shirts, buttons, posters and ball caps such as the one being worn here by Trump speaking at a recent rally," writes Pastor Thomas Robb, the head of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. "But can it happen? Can America really be great again? This is what we will soon find out!"
"While Trump wants to make America great again, we have to ask ourselves, 'What made America great in the first place?'" Robb continues. "The short answer to that is simple. America was great not because of what our forefathers did — but because of who our forefathers were. America was founded as a White Christian Republic. And as a White Christian Republic it became great."
"The Crusader" is the official newspaper of the KKK. #MAGA #DonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/mBTvLOFU9u — Billy Gee (@billygee12) November 1, 2016
Asked by the Washington Post, Robb stopped short of calling it a formal endorsement—the article warns fellow white nationalists that most conservatives, Trump included, do not fully grasp that a "racial time bomb" is ticking—but said it nevertheless showed the paper's enthusiastic support for the Trump campaign.
"Overall, we do like his nationalist views and his words about shutting down the border to illegal aliens. It's not an endorsement because, like anybody, there's things you disagree with," Robb said. "But he kind of reflects what's happening throughout the world."
Update Tuesday November 1, 9:50 pm ET: The Trump campaign just issued a statement denouncing the paper.
Trump camp statement on KKK's official newspaper endorsing Trump: pic.twitter.com/2TUaewGSWD — Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) November 2, 2016
Ohio Judge Blocks Trump Supporters from 'Exit Polling'
by Pete Williams A federal judge in Ohio issued an order Friday barring supporters of Donald Trump from trying to intimidate voters.
Effective immediately and until the voting is done, they are barred from hindering or delaying a prospective voter from reaching the polling place and casting a ballot.
The order, issued by US District Judge James Gwin, also applies to pro-Trump operative Roger Stone. It forbids questioning voters "under the guise of the purported 'exit polling' or 'citizen journalist' operations organized and encouraged" by Stone and a group called Stop the Steal.
The judge acted after Ohio Democrats complained that Stone was planning to engage in his own version of exit polling, which they claimed was intended to hassle voters
Gwin's order specifically bans unauthorized poll watching inside polling places as well as within a 100-foot buffer zone around the polls. It prohibits coming closer than ten feet to voters in line outside the zone.
Banned practices include "challenging or questioning voters or prospective voters about their eligibility to vote, or training, organizing, or directing others to do the same."
In an apparent desire to be even-handed, the order also applies to "groups associated with the Clinton for Presidency campaign."
Similar lawsuits have been filed by Democrats in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, and Nevada.
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