It was 1983 and the KKK had been actively recruiting in Connecticut. They arranged with the city of Meriden to have a public rally – the second or third they’d held there. At the earlier events, some rather dogmatic anti-klan groups had taken them on with rockthrowing and general mayhem.

All of the local churches and usual liberal groups had decided to either ignore the Klan activities or hold a gathering up in Hartford but a group of us felt that the Klan should not be allowed to appear without opposition and that it was important to face their hatred directly but with nonviolence and and strength. We organized affinity groups and did a lot of intensive nonviolence training ending up with about 100 folks.

A church in Meriden let us sleep in their hall the night before since there was concern the city would be hard to enter in the morning. It was a very scary night. The state police sent two spies to infiltrate our prep meetings – and we suggested they leave. The staties then told the press where we were staying and it was very clear that if there was trouble, they would not be on *our* side. In the morning, the church lost their nerve and kicked us out which meant we had no place to head if things got bad on the streets.


The tension all around was so high … police dogs everywhere, police snipers on roofs, tear gas set up and a growing crowd, ready to listen to the Klan.

In those days, I worked as legal support, bail carrier and general coordinator for our affinity groups – a role that felt very lonely since I was separated from the affinity groups themselves so I could observe and intervene if needed. Our groups took up positions around the front of the city hall steps where the KKK was scheduled to speak, singing songs of unity.

I was standing on a low wall right across the street from the steps where the KKK were going to speak.From my vantage point, I was able to see the Klan arrive at the back of the City Hall, carrying their hoods and robes in dry cleaning bags – and watched as they were invited into City Hall to get changed. At noon, the bit front doors of the Meriden City Hall opened and out walked the Klan to take their places on the high steps and begin their rally. 

The crowds were immense – and very KKK supportive … 

As I was watching (and shaking … there was something so visceral about seeing the Klan up close like that) I noticed a group of black kids – young teens, mostly boys – walking up the sidewalk towards me from one side … and another group of kids, same age, all white, mostly boys too  … heading straight at them from the other direction. The KKK had been getting materials into the local schools, recruiting heavily and given the area, I figured there was about to be serious trouble … both groups kept coming and the KKK was ranting away about white rights and racial purity.

As the black kids got close, closer ..with the KKK was just above them … they turned on a boombox … and the white kids arrived at the same spot at the same time …

Suddenly Beat It blasted from the boombox … and both groups of kids started to dance. 

They did not know each other, Meriden was seriously segregated at the time … but those kids danced their asses off together … and then walked away smiling in different directions.

It’s a moment I’ll never forget and is why I mourn Michael Jackson.