The Knights of the Flaming Circle was a militant organization founded in 1923 to fight the anti-Catholic Ku Klux Klan.
[1] Bryce Bauer has written that, "Instead of only admitting white, native-born Protestants as the Klan did, the organization vowed to accept anyone who was anything other than that.
Notable outbreaks of violence took place in the Mahoning Valley of Ohio and in "Bloody Williamson" county of Southern Illinois.
"[1] In some parts of the country, Catholic members of the Red Knights responded with "mass, armed counterattacks" significant enough for the National Guard to be called during at least one of these actions.
The Klan rescheduled for November 1, 1924, and the Knights of the Flaming Circle announced plans for a competing counter-march, promising 10,000 participants.
Both the fiery cross and a flaming circle appeared in early April 1925 in the days before the local school board election.
Following telephone death threats from a voice with a Southern drawl, local police provided Jordan with protection.
The organizers claimed connection with hard-hat construction unions and included a number of honorably discharged military veterans.