KKK Faction Trying to Recruit in Northern Arkansas
By:
Updated: November 8, 2012
The day after the election, a known member of that faction, with a long history of involvement with hate groups, sent KARK an email saying white supremacist groups will "exponentially explode over the next four years."
Billy Roper is the man who sent that email. The Carroll County News article which ran on Nov. 2, says that faction plans to target Carroll County next.
Roper, who ran for governor several years ago, is listed in the Southern Poverty Law Center's database of hate groups and their members. He did not agree to an interview and said he would not speak for the Klan group of which he is a member.
KARK met up with a reformed white supremacist in Hot Springs who knows Roper.
"All they do is look for your fear and hatred and they play on that and try to turn you against the people they don't like," said Raymond Barrett.
Barrett, who turned away from those groups, is now a progressive activist who champions minority rights.
"A lot of people fear change and that's what they are playing on. They want people to be afraid."
The Southern Poverty Law Center reports there are 26 known hate groups operating in Arkansas.
This year, the Center received five reports of racially-motivated hate incidents in the state.


