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John John Kasper;American politician
Date of Birth: 21.10.1929
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Ku Klux Klan and Anti-Integration Activism
- Primaries Council of Citizens
- Arrest and Acquittal
- Arrest and Conviction
- Disregard for Court Order and Imprisonment
- Post-Release Activities
- Return to Obscurity and Death
Early Life and Education
John Kasper, born in the United States, ascended to prominence as a controversial political figure deeply affiliated with organizations and ideologies that propagated racial segregation and white supremacy. His early life remains largely undocumented, leaving his education and upbringing shrouded in obscurity.
Ku Klux Klan and Anti-Integration Activism
Kasper's political career was marked by a staunch advocacy for racial segregation and an unwavering opposition to the Civil Rights Movement. He found common ground with Ezra Pound, a renowned poet who held extremist anti-Semitic and fascist views. Under Pound's guidance, Kasper established Square Dollar Press in 1951, a publishing house that disseminated works aligned with Pound's ideologies.
In Greenwich Village, Kasper opened Make it New, a bookstore that showcased Pound's letters in its storefront window. He vehemently denounced racial integration in the Southern United States, attributing it to a Jewish conspiracy. Kasper believed he was disseminating Pound's ideas through these activities. The poet's association with Kasper drew ire from individuals who sought his release from St. Elizabeth's Hospital, where he was detained on treason charges.
Primaries Council of Citizens
After establishing his bookstore, Kasper relocated to Washington, D.C., where he fostered a close friendship with Pound. He founded a company that published Pound's works and those of other authors like Charles Olson. Imbued with Pound's right-wing ideologies, Kasper formed the Primories Council of Citizens in response to the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. This organization aimed to obstruct desegregation efforts in Washington.
Arrest and Acquittal
Kasper gained notoriety during the desegregation of Clinton High School in Tennessee. Attempting to mobilize opponents of the desegregation order, he was arrested amidst clashes. However, he was acquitted in the subsequent trial, which featured jurors who had served as auxiliary police officers during his arrest.
Arrest and Conviction
This incident propelled Kasper into the limelight, making him a focal point of similar protests across the South. Despite being an unwanted guest, he continued to campaign against integration, leading to his imprisonment for offenses such as incitement to riot and vagrancy. Kasper became a suspect in the bombing of a school in Nashville and several synagogues, driven by his virulently anti-Semitic views. However, no conclusive evidence linked him to these crimes.
Disregard for Court Order and Imprisonment
In 1956, Kasper ignored a court order, resulting in his arrest and conviction for contempt of court. He appealed the verdict and vanished before being sentenced to a year in prison. Subsequently, he was incarcerated for eight months in 1957 on conspiracy charges.
Post-Release Activities
Upon his release, Kasper advocated for a return to constitutionalism and the formation of a third party to resist integration, which both Democrats and Republicans now supported. He joined the National States' Rights Party and ran for president in 1964 with J.B. Stoner as his running mate. Kasper's campaign garnered minimal support, receiving only 6,434 votes in two states.
Return to Obscurity and Death
Kasper retreated from politics in 1967 and returned to his family life and clerical work. He passed away in April 1998 at the age of 68, leaving behind a controversial legacy of racial intolerance and anti-Semitism.
