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Source: ONE News -
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A former Ku Klux Klan leader (KKK) has warned the notorious race hate group is actively recruiting in New Zealand.
Johnny Lee Clary, a former imperial wizard, the highest-ranked member of the KKK, now fights against it as a born-again Christian.
The pastor has told New Zealand media his contacts have informed him that KKK paraphernalia is being distributed in Auckland to recruit young members.
"As far as I know it's happening in Auckland right now," he told Radio New Zealand from his home in Alabama.
"There's a clan leader in Auckland and he is putting out all kinds of literature and paraphernalia."
He warned the organisation was targeting young people from low socio-economic backgrounds.
"They don't go where people are happy with money in their pocket," said Clary.
"They pick on the poor, the miserable, the down and out."
He said the current global financial crisis and political change in the United States was fuelling klan membership for the first time in decades.
At one recent rally in Alabama, more than 300 people signed up, a number he said was "unprecedented". Online registrations had also increased, largely triggered by President Barack Obama's election, he said.
"It's serious, serious enough that the FBI ... and other law enforcement agencies are trying to get on top of it because the klan has made direct threats to Obama," Clary said.
"They (KKK) actually sent me an email just the other day and were telling me that Barack Obama was the best thing that ever happened to them and they're excited and happy because their membership is growing larger than it ever has.
"Even when he was running against Hillary the clan went on YouTube and were talking about how they were going to get him."
Clary left the KKK 20 years ago and now travels the world as an anti-racism motivational speaker.
"I will spend the rest of my life chipping away at that wall of hate."
