The symbol of the #burningcross is one of the most powerful symbols of hate in the United States, having been disseminated as an image of terror by #KuKluxKlan groups since the early 1900s.
Burning crosses — referred to as “crossed torches” by Ku Klux Klan groups, in an attempt to suggest that they are not destroying a Christian cross — have long been used as a traditional symbol by Klan groups, both in their rituals and in attempts to intimidate and terrorize members of targeted groups.
The symbol is strongly associated with racial intimidation. It is important to note, however, that most criminal incidents involving cross burnings are not actually connected to a Ku Klux Klan organization. The symbol of the burning cross has also crossed the borders of the United States. Images of #Klansmen standing in front of burning crosses are not uncommon among European and other White Supremacist groups around the world.
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