James Litwin collection (Bowling Green KKK Rally Response)

The collection of material, formed by James Litwin in his role of as a member of the Wood County Human Relations Commission, is rather scattered in nature in representing official policy, other than the agenda from one HRC meeting. But it is rich in supporting material that was generated and circulating in the community in the period before the Ku Klux Klan rally at the Wood County Courthouse.

The correspondence material consists mostly of memos and notes sent by Litwin related to information received that he wanted passed to City officials, such as Chief of Police Galen Ash, a note of thanks for literature received from Klanwatch, a letter to BG City Schools Principals outlining the educational options presented in preparation for the Klan visit (including availability of the video “Legacy of Hate”) and a note to Debbie Perooz and Maryann Sandusky summarizing a meeting of the Unity Coalition. The few pieces of incoming correspondence includes a note from the pastor of First Presbyterian Church, David Cook Young, with the text of a sermon he presented on May 29, 1994. One other piece of incoming correspondence in the folder is a photocopy of the original request of Vince Pinette, KKK Grand Titan, requesting the rally, dated March 3, 1994.

Subject files include the material that was in a labeled folder of City Human Relations Commission KKK Rally Response material; a folder gathering all the related Unity Coalition literature; brochures, flyers and signs; material on the position of the National Women’s Rights Organizing Coalition; and a folder of compiled positions/statements of various extremist groups including the KKK, Knights of Freedom, and Nazi Party USA.



Although just a draft version, there is a typed summary report of the events leading up to the rally, the plans and responses, and the aftermath, written by Litwin for an unknown purpose, but probably for the HRC. Although some parts of the text are blank or just consist of handwritten notes, it gives a good overview of the situation.

Printed material assembled by Litwin consists of newspaper clippings dating from February 1994 through the summer providing coverage of KKK activities around the country, community reactions to Klan rallies in other cities, the response and planning in Bowling Green, coverage of the event at the Wood County Courthouse and its aftermath. Most of the clippings are from the Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune, but there are also articles from the BGSU paper, the BG News and the Toledo Blade among other area papers.

Finally, there are a grouping of photographs taken by Jim Litwin of local preparations, such as an informational table at the Woodland Mall, signs from the Unity Coalition in store windows, security preparations at the Courthouse, community attendance at the Unity Coalition Rally and Candlelight Vigil. Although there is no identification on the photographs, they are generally clear on what the subject of the shot is.