in years； he said。 He admired them and their sacrifices in being there。 He knew they had jobs and families； but this was important。 He talked about the glory days when they were feared in Mississippi and had clout。 Those days must return； and it was up to this very group of dedicated men to take a stand for white people。 The march could be dangerous； he explained。 Niggers could march and demonstrate all day long and no one cared。 But let white folks try and march and it was dangerous。 The city had issued a permit； and the nigger sheriff promised order； but most Klan marches nowadays were disrupted by roving bands of young wild nigger punks。 So be careful； and keep ranks。 He； Stump； would do the talking。
They listened intently to Stump's^rep talk； and when he finished they loaded into a dozen cars and followed him to town。
Few if any people in Clanton had ever seen the Klan march； and as 2：00 P。M。 approached a great wave of excitement rippled around the square。 The merchants and their customers found excuses to inspect the sidewalks。 They milled about importantly and watched the side streets。 The vultures were out in full force and had congregated near the gazebo on the front lawn。 A group of young blacks gathered
nearby under a massive oak。 Ozzie smelled trouble。 They assured him they had only e to watch and listen。 He threatened them with jail if trouble started。 He stationed his men at various points around the courthouse。
〃Here they e！〃 someone yelled； and the spectators strained to get a glimpse of the marching Klansmen as they strutted importantly from a small street onto Washington Avenue； the north border of the square。 They walked cautiously； but arrogantly； their faces hidden by the sinister red and white masks hanging from the royal headdresses。 The spectators gawked at the faceless figures as the procession moved slowly along Washington； then south along Caffey Street； then east along Jackson Street。 Stump waddled proudly in front of his men。 When he neared the front of the courthouse； he made a sharp left turn and led his troops down the long sidewalk in the center of the front lawn。 They closed ranks in a loose semicircle around the podium on the courthouse steps。
The vultures had scrambled and fallen over themselves following the march； and when Stump stopped his men the podium was quickly adorned with a dozen microphones trailing wires in all directions to the cameras and recorders。 Under the tree the group of blacks had grown larger； much larger； and some of them walked to within a few feet of the semicircle。 The sidewalks emptied as the merchants and shopkeepers； their customers； and the other curious streamed across the streets onto the lawn to hear what the leader； the short fat one； was about to say。 The deputies walked slowly through the crowd； paying particular attention to the group of blacks。 Ozzie placed himself under the oak； in the midst of his people。
Jake watched intently from the window in Jean Gilles…pie's second floor office。 The sight of the Klansmen； in full regalia； their cowardly faces hidden behind the ominous masks； gave him a sick feeling。 The white hood； for decades a symbol of hatred and violence in the South； was back。 Which one of those men had burned the cross in his yard？ Were they all active in planning the bombing of his home？ Which one would try something next？ From the second floor； he could see the blacks inch closer。
〃You niggers were not invited to this rally！〃 Stump
screamed into the microphone； pointing at the blacks。 〃This is a Klan meetin'； not a meetin' for a buncha niggers！〃
From the side streets and small alleys behind the rows of red brick buildings； a steady stream of blacks moved toward the courthouse。 They joined the others； and in seconds Stump and。his boys were outnumbered ten to one。 Ozzie radioed for backup。
〃My name's Stump Sisson；〃 he said as he removed his mask。 〃And I'm proud to say I'm the Mississippi Imperial Wizard for the Invisible Empire of the Ku Klux Klan。 I'm here to say that the law…abidin' white folks of Mississippi are sick and tired of niggers stealin'； rapin'； killin'； and gettin' by with it。 We demand justice； and we demand that this Hailey nigger be convicted and his black ass sent to the gas chamber！〃
〃Free Carl Lee！〃 screamed one of the blacks。
〃Free Carl Lee！〃 they repeated in unison。
〃Free Carl Lee！〃
〃Shut up； you wild niggers！〃 Stump shrieked back。 〃Shut up； you animals！〃 His troops stood facing him； frozen； with their backs to the screaming crowd。 Ozzie and six deputies moved between the groups。
〃Free Carl Lee！〃
〃Free Carl Lee！〃
Stump's naturally colorful face had turned an even deeper red。 His teeth nearly touched the microphones。 〃Shut up； you wild niggers！ You had your rally yesterday and we didn't disturb you。 We have a right to assemble in peace； just like you do！ Now； shut up！〃
The chanting intensified。 〃Free Carl Lee！ Free Carl Lee！〃
〃Where's the sheriff？ He's supposed to keep law and order。 Sheriff； do your job。 Shut those niggers up so we can assemble in peace。 Can't you do your job； Sheriff？ Can't you control your own people？ See； folks； that's what you get when you elect niggers to public office。〃
The shouting continued and Stump stepped back from the microphones and watched the blacks。 The photographers and TV crews spun in circles trying to record it all。 No one noticed a small window on the third floor of the courthouse。 It opened slowly； and from the darkness within a
wuuc mcuumo was tnrown onto the podium below。 It landed perfectly at Stump's feet and exploded； engulfing the wizard in dames。
The riot was on。 Stump screamed and rolled wildly down the front steps。 Three of his men shed their heavy robes and masks and attempted to cover him and smother the flames。 The wooden podium and platform burned with the thick； unmistakable smell of gasoline。 The blacks charged； wielding sticks and knives and hacking at anything with a white face or white robe。 Under each white robe was a short black nightstick； and the Klansmen proved ready for the assault。 Within seconds of the explosion； the front lawn of the Ford County Courthouse was a battlefield as men screamed and cursed and howled in pain through thick； heavy smoke。 The air was filled with rocks and stones and nightsticks as the two groups brawled in hand…to…hand bat。
Bodies began falling on the lush； green grass。 Ozzie fell first； the victim of a wicked smash to the base of his skull with a wrecking bar。 Nesbit； Prather； Hastings； Pirtle； Tatum； and other deputies ran here and there attempting unsuccessfully to separate various batants before they killed each other。 Instead of running for cover； the vultures darted cra…zily through the midst of the smoke and violence valiantly trying to capture yet a better shot of the blood and gore。 They were sitting ducks。 One cameraman； his right eye buried deep in his camera； caught a jagged piece of brick with his left eye。 He and his camera dropped quickly to the sidewalk； where； after a few seconds； another cameraman appeared and filmed his fallen rade。 A fearless； busy female reporter from a Memphis station charged into the melee with her microphone in hand and her cameraman at her heels。 She dodged a brick； then maneuvered too close to a large Klansman who was just finishing off a couple of black teenagers； when； with a loud piercing scream； he slapped her pretty head with his nightstick； kicked her as she fell； then brutally attacked her cameraman。
Fresh troops from the Clanton City Police arrived。 In the center of the battle； Nesbit； Prather； and Hastings came together； stood with their backs to each other； and began firing their Smith & Wesson 。357 magnum service revolvers
into the air。 The sound of the gunfire quelled the riot。 The warriors froze and searched for the gunfire； then quickly separated and glared at each other。 They retreated slowly to their own groups。 The officers formed a dividing line between the blacks and the Klansmen； all of whom were thankful for the truce。
A dozen wounded bodies were unable to retreat。 Ozzie sat dazed； rubbing his neck。 The lady from Memphis was unconscious and bleeding profusely from the head。 Several Klansmen； their wh