Female KKK Recruit Shot And Killed As She Left Initiation Ritual

COVINGTON, La. — An Oklahoma woman invited to a rural Louisiana campsite for a Ku Klux Klan initiation ritual was shot and killed after she asked to be taken back to town, the sheriff of a New Orleans suburb said Tuesday.

Eight people were arrested after authorities found the woman's body hidden under some brush, on the side of a road several miles from the remote campsite where the initiation was planned.

Investigators found weapons, several flags and six Klan robes at the campsite, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain said in a news release.

Strain said the woman, whose identity was not released, was recruited over the Internet to participate in the ritual and then return to her home state to find other members for the white supremacist group.

But Strain said the group's leader, Raymond "Chuck" Foster, 44, shot and killed the woman Sunday after a fight broke out when she tried to leave. Foster was charged with second-degree murder and is being held without bond.

Capt. George Bonnett, a spokesman for the sheriff's department, said he didn't know what the initiation involved.

"We haven't completely sorted out if they finished the initiation," he said. "I assume that they had started it, but I don't know if they were finished."

Bonnett said he doesn't know if Foster has an attorney. He also said that in three years with the department, this was the first time he had seen a case involving the KKK.

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Seven others _ five men and two women from 20 to 30 years old _ were charged with obstruction of justice and were held on $500,000 bond at the St. Tammany Parish jail. All eight of the suspects live in neighboring Washington Parish, but Bonnett said he couldn't immediately identify their hometowns.

Authorities said some of the suspects tried to conceal the crime by burning the woman's belongings along with other items at the campsite.

Strain said the woman arrived in the Slidell, La., area last week and was met by two people connected to the Klan group. She was taken over the weekend to the campsite near Sun, La., on the banks of the Pearl River. Sun is about 60 miles north of New Orleans.

Authorities said the group's members called themselves the "Dixie Brotherhood."

"The IQ level of this group is not impressive, to be kind," Strain said, adding, "I can't imagine anyone feeling endangered or at risk by any one of these kooks."

Mark Pitcavage, directive of investigative research for the Anti-Defamation League, said the Dixie Brotherhood appears to be a small, loosely organized group of people.

"This is not what I would call an established Klan group," he said. "The Klan has a pretty high association with violence. Some of these guys are just crooks, sociopaths."

Comments

[seereene1]

I'm taking exception today to all these comments laying the blame on this incident to Sara P and John MC. These klannies have been around for well over a century and the only thing new about this story is the recruitment method. If you visit the ADL website you'll see links to stories where the hate groups have been gearing up ever since BHO became a force in the primaries. Their whole world view has crumbled with his presidency and there is a fierce debate online now about whether someone should 'take him out' or whether they should just arm to the teeth for the up and coming race war. They truly believe they are now in imminent danger from Blacks, latinos, etc. Sarah P only used the latent racism within her party base for political gain. The overt, avowed racists were always there, and may always be with us.

[quiviran]

And yet they are allowed to have guns and breed.

[MalloMel]

Sarah, look what you have caused.

[victoriajubilee]

The secret service reported that each time Sarah Palin called Senator Obama a socialist and questioned his patriotism, threats from hate groups such as the K.K.K increased,

[walsenberg]

why isn't the media asking palin about the hate she incited against obama? why isn't the media asking palin about the alaska independence party?

These are the types of people palin drew to her rallies. why isn't anyone addressing her hate mongering?

[billblow3]

BECAUSE SHE'S WHITE, and most in the media feel the same way she does and the media only cares about ratings

[Girlforaction]

Am I to feel sorry for this broad? What she thought, the hate was only for other people. Hey just like everything you put out in life, hate comes back to you.

[nikky]

HARD TO FEEL SORRY FOR HER

[nippyfan]

I feel sorry for her. And I'm a black woman who deals with crazy levels of racism. Sometimes people are lost and looking for acceptance, the same way people join gangs. She came to her senses and was murdered for it. What's wrong with you people.
When you harden to a point where you don't have any empathy, you become what you dislike most.

[The Lorax]

I didn't want to say it out loud, but I agree it's hard to feel sorry...

[YouDisgustMe]

well...you kinda should feel sorry....simply because you're a kind-natured person :)

[MalloMel]

Sometimes it comes back, but all too often, the haters get to live out their lives, no matter how hateful they are. That's one reason I don't believe in a god.

[LouisianaLiberal]

It would be difficult for me to speak to this abomination of humanity in 250 words so I will only speak to the rejoinder. As I share a state with this scum I feel I have a right to judge both the perpetrators and the response team.

I have friends and neighbors who were afraid to put Obama signs on their lawn. To have our sheriff say "I can't imagine anyone feeling endangered or at risk by any one of these kooks", shows how Louisiana soil provides fertile ground for this behavior. We ARE afraid and there are many of us.

Yes, they are mentally ill people, but they are dangerous and although their numbers may not be as large as they once were, they ARE significant, and no law enforcement individual should be allowed to brush this off as a few “kooks”, indicating a sort of harmless character, not murderers. That this woman allegedly came to Louisiana to join them, does not *excuse* this group from its deeds either implicitly or explicitly.

Some may have thought my reaction to the horrible fear mongering coming from the Republicans at the top of the ticket this cycle may have been over the top. I would submit I was not hard enough on Palin and anyone else spreading this disease.

Please join me in placing a sign on your front lawn that says, “Racism is not tolerated here” and scrutinize those without signs. Oh America, please help us.

[jesther]

It was a pathetic sign of racism when it became clear Louisiana was not going for Obama after the awful response by Bush, McCain (Birthday party!) and other Republicans to Katrina. Considering Louisiana went for Clinton in 1992 and 1996, the only explainable answer was the issue of Obama's "race."

[MrsMAB]

I agree. I was astonished. Louisiana should have been the first blue state on November 4th. I have to imagine that there are still a lot of uninformed people in those neck of the woods. I live in Indiana, and if we can go blue - anyone can!

[walkonsatisfied]

I'm from Tennessee and the whole South went for McSame. I don't believe race was the main factor. It has more to do with the fundamentlist Christian aspect. They vote their religion. Racial hatred is a part of that but the South voted against abortion - plain & simple.

[fearless420]

Please keep in mind that New Orleans went STRONGLY for Obama (79 percent), not McCain. We didn't forget who was eating cake while we were drowning. In many parts of the state, NOLA is despised for being too liberal, too black, too urban, too immoral, too loose, etc etc etc. Many of the right wing conservatives in other parts of the state would just as soon see us washed away for good since we don't quite fall in line with them. And we really don't give a damn.
So please don't blame us for the political decisions of stupid rednecks in other parishes. It's like blaming folks in San Francisco for the passage of Prop 8.

[fdanconia]

Well they did vote out their incompetent governor who ignored Bush Administration pleas to have the area evacuated. Blanco was in the tank for Kerry in 04 and tried everything in her power to obstruct federal efforts to save New Orleans prior to Katrina.

[BannedFromCommenting]

The initiation had to do with something she flat out refused despite her hatred.

Two choices I am guessing she faced:

1: Violence against a black person to prove her commitment (which my guess is the men were too afraid to do themselves yet said to the recruit "Yeah we have done this and that and now its your turn" when they really have done nothing)

2: They said she would have to sleep with the leader and she refused because well look at him in the photo!

[MalloMel]

:)

[piper1233]

Killed because she wasn't thorough enough in her hating class, what a pity.

[marasgram18]

Apparently Louisiana's governor wants to be president. Might I suggest that the governor clean up the hate groups in his state before lobbying to be POTUS

[EllaBee]

Excellent point! New Orleans is known as the murder capital.

[LouisianaLiberal]

This is off topic, really, and this is why. Hate mongering is not pervasive in N.O. But it is in the fabric of the lives of our citizenry everywhere else in the state. I live here with people I think I like. Then during a seemingly innocent conversation about rescuing dogs, for example, one might hear a sharp criticism of the Obamas. Nerves will fire and ears will perk looking for the code. The reason given is because the Obamas don't understand they can rescue a pure bred dog of their choice, therefore they can promote rescuing shelter pets while fulfilling Malia’s health issues. But the conversation will make a quick hop to “That’s not why I hate him, though; I hate him for other reasons.” Snap! “Other reasons” is the thread from which discerning eyes may see the secret cipher. It’s there and it’s systemic. And it has nothing to do with N.O., which has other problems, most of which have underlying causes having to do with poverty.

[JodyMcg]

"The IQ level of this group is not impressive, to be kind," Strain said, adding, "I can't imagine anyone feeling endangered or at risk by any one of these kooks."

Keep in mind David Duke ran on the Republican ticket. White supremicists and extremists are a minority within the Repblican party but they are still part of the party. I can't understand why any African American or minority would belong to or support the Republican party as it is now.

[MalloMel]

"I can't understand why any African American or minority would belong to or support the Republican party as it is now."

Just because they are African Americans does not mean that they cannot have psychological problems. They can be screwed up just like white Americans. What's that saying? "There but for the grace of God, go I."

[YouDisgustMe]

i ponder this all the time....the republican party is almost blatantly anti-minority...however, there's something called self-h@te..and it can make you do cr@zy things

[WhoneedsGoverment]

Soo, the KKK is NOT a terrorist organization????

[castleberry]

Somebody in the major media should call Palin out on this crap. She fanned the flames of hate across America, and now we'll all have to deal with it. She's going to be praying to get the job she is so unbelievably unqualified for, and I doubt she'll be praying to stop the white power cult so enamored of her.

[Retrofuturistic]

Palin should be indicted for inciting hate crimes and participation in hate organizations.

[Jaxy]

Retrofuturistic, interesting post you have there. You probably haven't heard Sister Sarah's comments from her recent Matt Lauer interview.

She actually had the gall to aver that she is not "excessively partisan." I doubt that even the Klan would buy that claim!

[hopeless277]

Are they sure it wasn't a meeting of the Sarah Palin fan club??

[mirage2008]

lil

[mirage2008]

sorry I meant "LOL"

[dimplesmile7]

Why do so many people go through so much trouble just to say I hate you. You join a group buy a pillowcase, white dress and pay dues just to say I hate you. LOL Bunch of dummies! These people need to be rounded up and thrown on a isolated island and just let them destroy themselves. No police or ambulance.

[saintsfan2008]

Actually, all they have to do is come on this site to post a comment to say I hate you. I have seen more than 1 "I hate her" or "I hate him" refering to Palin and McCain. Hate is wrong no matter what.

[DirkNLExpat]

hate is NOT wrong when its against e v i l , which is Mc cain and Palin.

[ThankGodforAtheists]

These people don't just want to say, I hate you. Just saying it here would not be phychologically fullfilling. They want to relish in hate with others of a like mind. It's a social thing. How is that for an oxymoron. They can't chant and burn crosses on-line.

I don't agree with those who use the word hate on-line but In regards to the comment below about those that say "I hate him or her" I think there is a BIG difference between using the all to common phrase and being willing to kill over it. Don't lump those two groups together.

The one thing I do hate is hate itself.

[The Lorax]

I agree, especially with your last line.

And in light of this and in effort to not let ha te win, I want to say I love you all. And I am willing to give out hugs. Who's first?

[BobSacomano]

"The IQ level of this group is not impressive, to be kind," Strain said, adding, "I can't imagine anyone feeling endangered or at risk by any one of these kooks."

WRONG - these types are patently very dangerous, why would someone try to dismiss these idiots potential for violence - HE JUST SHOT SOMEONE! Is that 'risky' enough?

[MalloMel]

Hey, Bob, do you have to be so reasonable?

[YouDisgustMe]

LOL my sentiments exactly....preach Bob!!

[zenaby56]

Some of the comments here are keeping hate alive! think about what you are saying!

In response to the article, it concerns me that there are groups recruiting and I wonder if there is any connection to the fact that we jsut elected an African American President. I am concerned for President Elect Obama's safety and am also concerned about how this might spill over to all people of color in this Nation. I think we as a nation have come along way in the last several decades but do not believe we are finished with this chapter in our history of destroying those who are "not like us."

[SurrealPumpkin]

PEOPLE - you don't fight hate with hate. All that gets you is a lot of dead people. Why are you so eager to emulate the actions of those we just fought so hard to defeat this election?

We aren't about prejudice,
We aren't about hate,
We can't afford to be.

In an appeal to baser instincts: why are you eager to absolve these guys of paying their fair share of $700 billion bailout? I don't want to pay their share, do you, really?