HOW TO SUE THE KLAN Interview with Filmmaker John Beder on Community Resistance
John Beder is the Director & Producer of HOW TO SUE THE KLAN
What do you hope educators, students, and community members will learn from your film?
John Beder: Communities are the keeper of our stories and, too often, these stories of resistance against systematic oppression, racism, and violence are intentionally hidden or widely forgotten in our dominant cultural narrative. Each community is home to incredible advocates, organizers, activists, and community members that work daily to ensure combating systemic inequity and violence remains at the forefront of action and conversation. I hope all who watch this film learn about and remember Fannie Mae Crumsey, Viola Ellison, Lela Mae Evans, Opal Jackson, and Katherine Johnson who, thus far, have been unsung civil rights heroes even though their groundbreaking 1982 civil case set a legal precedent that paved the road for today’s fight against organized hate. Their bravery and influence should be recognized beside other Black leaders throughout history who stood up against oppression. Additionally, I hope this film speaks to audiences who are eager for resources that inspire conversation, action, and change. Learning about civil rights lawyers like Randolph McLaughlin and their work, understanding the role of civil trials as vehicles for change, and discovering strategies that can be used in Civil Court to fight against organized hate (i.e the KKK Act) is deeply important for inspiring a new generation of civil rights lawyers.
Was there anything that surprised you in the process of making this film?
John Beder: It really brought into perspective for me how much can be lost to time if stories aren't archived, especially stories that dominant culture or oppressive systems would prefer we all forget. It was extremely difficult to find good information and people to talk to when initially making this story because of how much information had been lost over the 40 years since the events had taken place. We, unfortunately, were not able to track down everyone involved in this story and that is something that weighed heavily on me throughout the process. This film was participatory and made alongside the community it centered - not being able to find all the voices or information our team wanted to center gave us a strong sense of grief.
Why is this film relevant to our current moment?
John Beder: According to FBI statistics, hate crime has been steadily rising in the United States at a rate of about 10% annually since 2014. Between 2019 and 2020, that rate rose to 13%, with anti-Black crime increasing by a staggering 40% between the two years. Protests, lawsuits, and calls for reform have responded to a problem that is getting worse instead of better.
At the same time that civil rights violations and racially motivated violence have been increasing, the number of attorneys working in the civil rights field has been steadily decreasing. While I know our film cannot solve generations of systematic oppression, I hope HOW TO SUE THE KLAN can offer both insights into the problem and inspiration for solutions for modern audiences. Change can be facilitated by sharing the widespread impact of the KKK Act’s successful use in civil court and has been a tool both survivors of hate crimes and attorneys working to quell today’s surge of racial violence can use to double the legal impact against offenders. Hate groups and individual perpetrators of hate crimes can be hit with criminal charges, then sued by their victims in civil court under the KKK Act. The act had never been used in federal civil court before the case detailed in our film (Crumsey vs. KKK), but has since been used successfully in courtrooms nationwide. There have been huge successes like a $25 million judgment in 2021 against violence committed by white supremacists at the Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally. In addition, civil rights attorney Ben Crump is currently using the statute to seek justice for the victims of the May 2022 Buffalo NY Tops supermarket shooting.
Why is it important to you that this film is viewed in an educational context?
John Beder: There is so much to learn, more generally, about community, resistance, and civil rights from this story but also it is extremely important that the tools and resources provided in this film that can be used to bankrupt hate groups can be more widely known and used. Before making this film, I was not aware of such a powerful legal strategy that was born in my home town to help survivors not only seek justice for themselves when the criminal legal system fails, but also help ensure further organizing of hate groups can be quelled within communities. This is such an important avenue for organizing against racism - I hope it inspires students and law students to join the field of civil rights rights law and educators to share the incredible resources and tools of resistance and justice being spearheaded by our communities on the ground.
Bring the documentary and Randolph McLaughlin, the Attorney & Professor Featured in HOW TO SUE THE KLAN to your campus + community.
