San Diego's Ku Klux Klan 1920-1980

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The Klan Youth Corps. [Photo courtesy of San Diego Public Library, California Room]

Wayne Kenaston, Sr.

Under the leadership of Wayne Kenaston, Sr., from 1930 to 1931, the San Diego K.K.K. expanded.

Election Notice sent to San Diego Klan members by Wayne Kenaston, Sr.

Mercedes Acasan Garcia with her husband [photo courtesy of the author]
"... any Mexican worker who challenged authority or appeared suspicious of one thing or another would forfeit his life."

Bert Corona [photo courtesy of the author]
Chicano leaders like Chole Alatorre, Roberto Martinez, Bert Corona and others were active in the Hermandad Mexicana Nacional during the 1980s to protect minorities from Klan abuses.

Luisa Moreno [photo courtesy of the author]

Companies like California Packing Corporation, Marine Products Company, Van Camp Seafood Company ... financed the Klan to battle against union leaders like Moreno.

Wayne Kenaston, Sr sent this letter to Klan members in 1933 as he stepped down from his post as Exalted Cyclops.

Wayne Kenaston, Jr. recalled that his mother made him a Klan outfit similar perhaps to this one.

Klan initiation ceremonies such as this one took place all over Southern California, probably inluding San Diego.

For his hard work in San Diego, Kenaston, Sr. was elevated to the rank of Klan Giant by the national Ku Klux Klan.