The Ku Klux Klan is the most infamous hate group in the United States. Although blacks were the main target, they also targeted Jews, immigrants, gays and lesbians, and until recently Catholics. The Klan has seen itself as a Christian organization since its founding date, in 1865, was in December.

        While the group was originally formed in the Civil War era, the Jim Crow laws guaranteed white domination. The Klan had been "awakened" in the 1920's, then again in the 1960's.

          The reason for the third rising was to prevent unfavorable rulings in the supreme court as well as to preserve segregation. The KKK would bomb and murder people to try getting their point across.

              Since the 1970's, the Klan has been weakened. However, the center estimates that there are between 5,000 and 8,000 members split among different organizations that are under the Klan name.