“You can sleep tonight knowing the Klan is awake”

Ku Klux Klan Fliers Found in Chicago Suburb

A member of the Fraternal White Knights of the Ku Klux Clan participates in the 11th Annual Nathan Bedford Forrest Birthday march July 11, 2009 in Pulaski, Tennessee. With a poor economy and the first African-American president in office, there has been a rise in extremist activity in many parts of America. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2008 the number of hate groups rose to 926, up 4 percent from 2007, and 54 percent since 2000. Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War and played a role in the postwar establishment of the first Ku Klux Klan organization opposing the reconstruction era in the South.

The fliers were discovered Monday in southwest suburban Tinley Park in at least five driveways on or near the 7000 block of 173rd Place, the Chicago Tribune reported.

“You can sleep tonight knowing the Klan is awake,” one flier read, according to the Tribune. The message was coupled with a candy cane.

Police reportedly claim no other incidents of racial or hate-crime nature were discovered, and said it remains unclear if the fliers are real or just somebody “goofing off.”

In October, residents of southwest suburban New Lenox Township received similar fliers.

The New Lenox flier was a call to "Join the Klan," and included a link to a website and the address of a post office box in North Carolina. A hotline number led to a recording with a "white power" recruitment message from the Loyal White Knights division of the Klan.

"I haven't seen anything like this, hate like this in 30 years," said Janice Dellar, who found a flier at her home. "I'm just very shocked to find it in this neighborhood."

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