Ku Klux Klan

====Costumes and the burning cross====
[[File:Ku Klux Klan members and a burning cross, Denver, Colorado, 1921.jpg|thumb|[[Cross burning]] was introduced by [[William Joseph Simmons|William J. Simmons]], the founder of the second Klan in 1915.]]
The distinctive white costume permitted large-scale public activities, especially parades and cross-burning ceremonies, while keeping the membership roles a secret. Sales of the costumes provided the main financing for the national organization, while initiation fees funded local and state organizers.

The second Klan embraced the burning [[Latin cross]] as a dramatic display of symbolism, with a tone of intimidation.<ref name="Greenhouse">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/29/us/supreme-court-roundup-free-speech-or-hate-speech-court-weighs-cross-burning.html?pagewanted=all|title=Supreme Court Roundup; Free Speech or Hate Speech? Court Weighs Cross Burning|last=Greenhouse|first=Linda|date=May 29, 2002|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 20, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724115314/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/29/us/supreme-court-roundup-free-speech-or-hate-speech-court-weighs-cross-burning.html?pagewanted=all|archive-date=July 24, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> No crosses had been used as a symbol by the first Klan, but it became a symbol of the Klan's quasi-Christian message. Its lighting during meetings was often accompanied by prayer, the singing of [[hymn]]s, and other overtly religious symbolism.{{sfn|Wade|1998}} In his novel ''The Clansman'', Thomas Dixon Jr. borrows the idea that the first Klan had used [[Crann Tara|fiery crosses]] from 'the call to arms' of the Scottish Clans,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3xhhv4 |title=Were Scots responsible for the Ku Klux Klan? |last1=Oliver |first1=Neil |author-link=Neil Oliver |last2=Frantz Parsons |first2=Elaine |publisher=BBC |access-date=October 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023030843/http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3xhhv4 |archive-date=October 23, 2017 |url-status=live  }}</ref> and film director D.W. Griffith used this image in ''The Birth of a Nation''; Simmons adopted the symbol wholesale from the movie, and the symbol and action have been associated with the Klan ever since.<ref>{{cite web |first=Cecil |last=Adams |url=http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1038/why-does-the-ku-klux-klan-burn-crosses |title=Why does the Ku Klux Klan burn crosses? |website=The Straight Dope |date=June 18, 1993 |access-date=December 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619134951/http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1038/why-does-the-ku-klux-klan-burn-crosses |archive-date=June 19, 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref>