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Judi Lynn

(160,525 posts)
Wed Mar 18, 2015, 11:12 PM Mar 2015

Former KKK Imperial Wizard who vanished in 1984 found living among blacks in Belize

Source: Raw Story

Former KKK Imperial Wizard who vanished in 1984 found living among blacks in Belize
Scott Kaufman
18 Mar 2015 at 11:19 ET


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Bill Wilkinson (Screen shot)
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The former Imperial Wizard of what the Justice Department once described as the most violent faction of the Ku Klux Klan has turned up after disappearing nearly 30 years ago — and he is living among the very races whose intermingled existence he once decried.

According to The Daily Mail‘s Ryan Parry, Bill Wilkinson is now a multimillionaire who runs a resort in San Pedro, off the coast of Central America. The island’s non-tourist population is mostly black, Mayan, and Hispanic.

“Life is real good, I love the island, it’s full of very friendly people,” he said. “I enjoy scuba diving, that’s what I came here for, snorkeling, fishing. People here know about my past but they don’t care, they accept me for who I am.”

That past includes encouraging the Klan to brandish “submachine guns and sawed-off shotguns at rallies” and creating “a network of hidden commando camps where Klansmen and their women and children are being taught how to kill.” He was suspected of being involved in orchestrating the events that led to a shootout between Klansmen and members of the Southern Christian Leadership Council in 1979.



Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/03/former-kkk-imperial-wizard-who-vanished-in-1984-found-living-among-blacks-in-belize/



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Former KKK Imperial Wizard who vanished in 1984 found living among blacks in Belize (Original Post) Judi Lynn Mar 2015 OP
Well, if that isn't irony. Beacool Mar 2015 #1
Probably went there iandhr Mar 2015 #2
People change MosheFeingold Mar 2015 #20
“It takes a mentally insane person to think like that.” R. Daneel Olivaw Mar 2015 #3
TINK Tom Ripley Mar 2015 #4
"They accept me for who I am." Aristus Mar 2015 #5
How do you know he doesn't? philosslayer Mar 2015 #7
The change may have come from his realizing his KKKlan can't protect him from his conscience. n/t Judi Lynn Mar 2015 #8
Is that naivete under that hood? Android3.14 Mar 2015 #15
What a wild story, good lord. Almost went to Belize, hear it was nice, geez. appalachiablue Mar 2015 #6
Thanks for the pix--an important reminder of just how ugly things have gotten here... Peace Patriot Mar 2015 #9
It's San Pedro Belize JustAnotherGen Mar 2015 #14
I see he's gone full-Gonzo..... DeSwiss Mar 2015 #10
The KKK is an "equal opportunity employer", don't you know! trusty elf Mar 2015 #11
I wonder if there are holes in the sheets Beakybird Mar 2015 #12
Locals refer to his "resort" as the Seven Fleas Resort JustAnotherGen Mar 2015 #13
Just figures that he would be a slumlord. Dont call me Shirley Mar 2015 #18
Why did I just think of the people of Vietnam right now? MrMickeysMom Mar 2015 #16
I would like to know TNNurse Mar 2015 #17
Slave Owners lived next to Slaves PeoViejo Mar 2015 #19
Once a Klansman, always a Klansman. No exceptions. nt Dreamer Tatum Mar 2015 #21
Perhaps just another gig for a con-man. hunter Mar 2015 #22
Here's how he changed : Love of green > hatred of black bullwinkle428 Mar 2015 #23

MosheFeingold

(3,051 posts)
20. People change
Thu Mar 19, 2015, 10:28 AM
Mar 2015

Senator Robert Byrd (D-WVA) was the the Gran Cyclops of the WVA KKK and even refused to join the military at age 24 because he didn't want to serve with blacks.

Byrd was a reliable Democrat vote for the progressive cause for 50 years and really helped keep Clinton in office.

In short, people change.

 

R. Daneel Olivaw

(12,606 posts)
3. “It takes a mentally insane person to think like that.”
Wed Mar 18, 2015, 11:34 PM
Mar 2015

Well, it seems like they are accepting of “mentally insane persons” so perhaps he will see the light someday.

I'm not sure why people have to hate so much.


But why go to British Honduras? Am I missing something?

Aristus

(66,327 posts)
5. "They accept me for who I am."
Wed Mar 18, 2015, 11:52 PM
Mar 2015

That certainly an admirable trait. I wonder why he doesn't adopt that point of view?...

Peace Patriot

(24,010 posts)
9. Thanks for the pix--an important reminder of just how ugly things have gotten here...
Thu Mar 19, 2015, 02:41 AM
Mar 2015

...and seem to be getting once again, with the lynchings now provided by police officers wearing "protect and serve" uniforms, not pointy hats and robes, and wielding guns, tasers and choke-holding hands instead of ropes and shotguns. Apologies to the true peaceful police officers in our country, and I know there are many, but, just as in the south from segregation through the 1980s, the few are tainting the many with criminal violence and horrible racism. There are other kinds of racists, of course--for instance, Republican so-called leaders, who conduct voter roll purges of blacks and browns--but none with such fire power and cover of authority as the police. It is absolutely appalling the number of citizens shot dead by the police in the USA, mostly black young men, with complete impunity. It's the Klan all over again.

As for Bill Wilkinson, what a strange story! It would be interesting to know more--for instance, does he pay his black and brown workers good wages and provide good working conditions, or has he made himself a millionaire by exploiting Honduran poverty? Do the tourists who use his resort know who he was and is? Does he have "color" rules at his resort? You also gotta wonder about him forbidding his kids and grandkids to marry blacks or browns. Are his kids and grandkids breaking his "color" rule in their friendships and dating? Are his kids and grandkids living there among a mostly black/brown population? What do THEY think?

JustAnotherGen

(31,817 posts)
14. It's San Pedro Belize
Thu Mar 19, 2015, 05:20 AM
Mar 2015

And there is a Trip Advisor review I've posted below.

Once you leave the hotel strip - you will literally find mountains of garbage the population lives amongst. They don't have a waste infrastructure developed. Wilkinson is probably loving watch how these people live.

 

DeSwiss

(27,137 posts)
10. I see he's gone full-Gonzo.....
Thu Mar 19, 2015, 03:00 AM
Mar 2015
- It's apparent he's joined with the liberal-wing of the KKK now: ''Ku Klux Klan faction offers membership to Jews and other minorities.'' If you were still hanging-on to the hope that what we're now experiencing was not the End Times, well I'm sorry to disappoint you.....

K&R



JustAnotherGen

(31,817 posts)
13. Locals refer to his "resort" as the Seven Fleas Resort
Thu Mar 19, 2015, 05:17 AM
Mar 2015
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g291962-d308881-r212513828-Seven_Seas_Resort-San_Pedro_Ambergris_Caye_Belize_Cayes.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT




Trip advisor review:

“Locals refer to this place as, "seven fleas" It is that bad!”
Reviewed June 28, 2014
The pictures of the rooms that they show online are of the time shares they will try to pressure you into with deals on snorkeling. (Not worth it, pay full price or it could turn into a screaming match like it did with us)

The real rooms... well, let's get started.

Yes it had a kitchen, you have to light the stove if you want to cook. The drop ceiling is falling apart and rotting. The laminate flooring are tiles and are NOT stuck to the floor. You need to be careful when walking or you wil slip. We stayed on the 3rd floor with lizards living in the rotting drop ceiling.
The pullout was stained, holes, and uncomfortable.
The kitchen had dirty dishes tucked away in the cabinets. The only a/c was in the bedroom, leaving the windows open was a must! The windows wouldn't lock, so definitely a security risk.
Management said they would pay for a taxi ride to hotel, they never did.
They also said we would be reimbursed for the water jug, never saw that money either.

This motel is the same as camping, only you have a working toilet, at times...

I encourage people to stay away from this place and spend your money and time at somewhere else! There many places on the island at the same price and in better shape than seven fleas.


He's trying to sell it - let's sink it before he does.


Heh heh heh - I've driven on a golf cart right past the place.

MrMickeysMom

(20,453 posts)
16. Why did I just think of the people of Vietnam right now?
Thu Mar 19, 2015, 07:11 AM
Mar 2015

Here - a nation that has suffered long term effects of an almost total destruction of their country, which clearly should have been left alone. We draft military and allow 58 thousand of our troops to die, or come home filled with physical and mental trauma, whilst attempting to almost destroy the North Vietnames/Vietcong, who we now see as our friends. But, there are long term effect of messing around with other nations

I know this isn't a strong correlation of what a klansman is doing among those who he once saw as the enemy… But, the forgiving amongst what is now is good life… I sense no atonement and erasure of memory for what happens as those in life think they can just forget and move forward.

TNNurse

(6,926 posts)
17. I would like to know
Thu Mar 19, 2015, 08:27 AM
Mar 2015

If the people around him really know. Have they seen the pictures posted here? Do they understand the things he did and said?

I kind of doubt that.

hunter

(38,311 posts)
22. Perhaps just another gig for a con-man.
Thu Mar 19, 2015, 10:41 AM
Mar 2015

When fleecing the ignorant Klan got too hot, he moved on to fleecing tourists.

That's not saying he can't be a violent white supremest too, but just like a lot of preachers, he took his followers "donations" and used them to finance his next scam...

Maybe more than the Feds, he probably feared some of the more powerful Klan members he ripped off and figured they would never come looking for him in Belize.

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