Decade of Decadence in the Rio Grande Valley with the Ku Klux Klan

Contributing  article compiled by Leo Rodriguez

Unfortunately, in the 1920's, the Rio Grande Valley was not immune to the sick spectacle of the hateful Klu Klux Klan organization. Klansman directed their activities in the RGV against "bootleggers, adulterers, Jews, pacifists, radicals, Catholics, and evolutionists." Scare tactics were more evident here than actual violence.

from San Benito's "Images of America" book of that series

The KKK, wanting to show their power, boldly marched in San Benito's Armistice Day Parade in 1919, much to the astonishment and dismay of local citizens. The KKK was protesting the fact that immigrants had settled here, and some were even beginning to own businesses.

On Aug. 26, 1921 Harlingen was celebrating the first lighting of the "white way," this being the decorative streetlights recently erected on Main (now Jackson) Street. As the block party on that Friday evening drew to a close, a disturbing specter appeared.

 A Ku Klux Klan parade, in which 104 knights of the invisible empire led by a fiery cross and a United States flag, was the startling conclusion to a civic downtown lighting celebration.

Shortly after nine pm, when the streets were densely crowded, the klansmen appeared, robed and masked, marching in regular order, and without a command being spoken, every movement of the marchers being directed by motions of the leader.

Halting momentarily in the main part of town while a proclamation was being affixed to a telephone pole, the klansmen again took up their march, passing silently through the main streets of the city, then through the Mexican section of town, and disappeared as silently as they had come. No attempt was made to follow them by any of the large crowd which witnessed the demonstration. Every klansman was skillfully disguised, and they moved in silence and with the precision that was described as "spooky."

1922 Houston Post clipping

On Oct. 7, 1921 another brazen demonstration was executed by the Klan, this time in Mercedes. The news report the next day read:

"Ku Klux Klan at Mercedes Holds Parade - Mayor of City and Deputies Stop boys Intent on Following Band". Led by a fiery cross and an American flag, in a disguised automobile, approximately 75 men garbed in the costume of the Ku Klux Klan paraded the streets of Mercedes , again at 9 pm. The marchers were dressed in the now familiar Ku Klux Klan costume consisting of a peaked hood and white tunic and skirt. They all wore the Mystic Emblem of the order of the tunic.

Big placards carrying the following signs were prominently displayed: "We believe in law and order," "If you are clean you need not fear," "We protect the chastity of our schoolchildren; Boys Beware!", "The Gambler Must Go," "We are a band of determined men and brook no interference," "Men, love your wives and leave other men's wives and daughters alone," "The land swindler and crook must go," "Don't follow us; you will be stomped." Mercedes seemed to take the Klan less seriously than other towns, and the marchers met with open derision in some cases. There was some handclapping and cheering. Several men took the opportunity to declare themselves opposed to it, loud enough for the marchers to hear. A large crowd of men and boys followed the line of march which appeared at the west end of Texas Avenue, Mercedes' Main street, and followed down the avenue across the tracks and up a side street headed toward the Rio Grande. Here they were told they were being stopped for their own good. Some protested, but all were persuaded to desist. After the parade the crowd broke up and departed for their homes.

December 17, 1931

During this time, San Benito founder & WWI hero Col. Sam Robertson, whom had just returned home after a distinguished military service in France, was most disgusted with the Klan, and with the Cameron County Sheriff's Department. He felt the Sheriff was not doing enough to protect the citizens against the KKK, so he decided to run for sheriff against incumbent Sheriff Vann.

Col. Robertson defeated the standing sheriff, and went on to win two terms. The KKK was slow to leave the Valley though, and continued to run weekly ads in 1925 in local newspapers, advertising their local Friday night meetings at A.P.A. sign near the arroyo bridge, between Harlingen and San Benito. It is believed that by 1930 the KKK had finally left the Rio Grande Valley.

March 1921 Brownsville Herald clippings sent by Leo Rodriguez

Additional sources: Valley Morning Star, Brownsville Herald archives.