The Charlie Birger gang, famous for their bootlegging and the chasing of the Ku Klux Klan out of Williamson County. Charlie Birger in the middle (sitting on top of car). Shady Rest, Illinois, 1925. [1600×1090]
Often people think the Klan were just anti-black They were/are also virulently anti Catholic, Jewish, immigrant etc. Particularly in this period where there second era of mass popularity was focused on catholic and jewish immigration. Mostly from Eastern and Southern Europe.
Birger was a second generation Jewish immigrant from Russia.
butlikewhosthat
They went with "Charlie Birger gang"? When "Birger Boys" was RIGHT there?
I don’t know who was driving the marketing there but there’s a reason this is the first time I’ve heard of these chaps.
clarkp762
Jesus, they have the 100 round drums for those thompsons
Rocky_ur_Drunk
I have two distant cousins in this photo. Birger is still a big topic of interest here in Southeastern Illinois.
DBDude
Bootlegging must have paid well, because those Thompsons cost a couple months pay for even someone making a professional income.
![The Charlie Birger gang, famous for their bootlegging and the chasing of the Ku Klux Klan out of Williamson County. Charlie Birger in the middle (sitting on top of car). Shady Rest, Illinois, 1925. [1600x1090]](https://i.redd.it/v4q0zk0o4pl51.jpg)
Gruffleson
Bootleggers and Klan-chasers? What’s not to like here? Fun photo!
Doubleday888
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Birger
Often people think the Klan were just anti-black They were/are also virulently anti Catholic, Jewish, immigrant etc. Particularly in this period where there second era of mass popularity was focused on catholic and jewish immigration. Mostly from Eastern and Southern Europe.
Birger was a second generation Jewish immigrant from Russia.
butlikewhosthat
They went with "Charlie Birger gang"? When "Birger Boys" was RIGHT there?
I don’t know who was driving the marketing there but there’s a reason this is the first time I’ve heard of these chaps.
clarkp762
Jesus, they have the 100 round drums for those thompsons
Rocky_ur_Drunk
I have two distant cousins in this photo. Birger is still a big topic of interest here in Southeastern Illinois.
DBDude
Bootlegging must have paid well, because those Thompsons cost a couple months pay for even someone making a professional income.