When the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (MDPS) began packing up its old offices in preparation for a new headquarters, the staff uncovered a startling glimpse into the state\u2019s turbulent past. In a dusty closet, a suitcase contained a collection of Ku Klux Klan (KKK) artifacts that had been hidden for decades. The discovery, which made headlines across the state, has prompted a deeper look at how the Klan\u2019s legacy is being preserved and remembered today.<\/p>\n
The items were found during routine cleaning and moving procedures at the MDPS\u2019s former building. The suitcase, wrapped in old newspaper clippings, held a range of documents and objects that dated back to the 1960s\u2014a period when the Klan\u2019s membership surged in response to the Civil Rights movement. The artifacts were immediately removed from the premises and handed over to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History for preservation.<\/p>\n
While the MDPS is responsible for law\u2011enforcement training, the Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Investigation, and the state crime lab, it has no affiliation with extremist groups. The discovery of these items was a sobering reminder of the state\u2019s complicated history and the importance of confronting it head\u2011on.<\/p>\n
Inside the suitcase, investigators found a variety of items that paint a vivid picture of the Klan\u2019s operations in Mississippi:<\/p>\n