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The Other Side of the Greensboro Shootout
By Robert Wtttson
IN TWO MINUTES on Saturday morning, Nov. 3,
1979, a gang of Ku Kiux Kkmners shot and killed five
self-etyled Communists of the Workers' Viewpoint Organization and wounded 12 others in a low-income, black
neighborhood in Greensboro, N.C.
Within a few hours the shootout had become a major
news story around the world: Greensboro was seen as a
target for a resurgent Kian, a city with a police force willing to torn its back when armed Klansmen rode into a
black neighborhood with intent to kill.
By Sunday night, reporters from the wire services,
marry major newspapers and all the major networks were
in Greensboro. Some stayed briefly, others stayed for a
while and then left. Of those who remained, few seemed
to know much about the South and, in particular,
Greensboro. They seemed confused because their preconceptions of Greensboro and the shootout were not
borne out as they examined the facts.
The drama of the shootout had a prologue. It was a
copy of a letter dated Oct. 22,1979, that began with the
salutation: "An open letter to Joe Grady, Gorrell Pierce,
and all KKK members and sympathizers," and went on
to say, "The KKK is one of the most treacherous scum
elements produced by the dying system of
capitalism . . . Yes, we challenged you to attend our
Nov. 3 rally in Greensboro. We publicly renew that challenge," the letter stated, and ended with, "We take you
seriously and we will show you no mercy. DEATH TO
THE KLAN, Workers' Viewpoint Organization."
See SHOOTOUT, Page C5
Robert Watson teaches poetry and English literature
at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
This article is excerpted from Harper's magazine.
NV
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Associated Pres»
Communist Workers prepare to lead funeral march in Greensboro.
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d
&
The Other Side of the Greensboro Shootout
By Robert Wtttson
IN TWO MINUTES on Saturday morning, Nov. 3,
1979, a gang of Ku Kiux Kkmners shot and killed five
self-etyled Communists of the Workers' Viewpoint Organization and wounded 12 others in a low-income, black
neighborhood in Greensboro, N.C.
Within a few hours the shootout had become a major
news story around the world: Greensboro was seen as a
target for a resurgent Kian, a city with a police force willing to torn its back when armed Klansmen rode into a
black neighborhood with intent to kill.
By Sunday night, reporters from the wire services,
marry major newspapers and all the major networks were
in Greensboro. Some stayed briefly, others stayed for a
while and then left. Of those who remained, few seemed
to know much about the South and, in particular,
Greensboro. They seemed confused because their preconceptions of Greensboro and the shootout were not
borne out as they examined the facts.
The drama of the shootout had a prologue. It was a
copy of a letter dated Oct. 22,1979, that began with the
salutation: "An open letter to Joe Grady, Gorrell Pierce,
and all KKK members and sympathizers," and went on
to say, "The KKK is one of the most treacherous scum
elements produced by the dying system of
capitalism . . . Yes, we challenged you to attend our
Nov. 3 rally in Greensboro. We publicly renew that challenge," the letter stated, and ended with, "We take you
seriously and we will show you no mercy. DEATH TO
THE KLAN, Workers' Viewpoint Organization."
See SHOOTOUT, Page C5
Robert Watson teaches poetry and English literature
at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
This article is excerpted from Harper's magazine.
NV
4^r
Associated Pres»
Communist Workers prepare to lead funeral march in Greensboro.
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