From KCRW, this is Nocturne.

Hi, it's Vanessa.

I want to let you know that this episode contains disturbing

content related to racist violence.

The dark stillness of night envelopes and cushions us. It draws us into ourselves and close to our loved ones.

We let down our guard and become vulnerable as we release our hold on the world

around us. Safety can flip on a dime though. Comfort turns to horror in a heartbeat when the night becomes

weaponized, used by bullies to terrorize and control, allowing the cowardly

perpetrator to hide in the shadows and evade detection or identification.

This is the most ominous embodiment of the night.

One of its most salient symbols is that of the burning cross.

Sociologist David Cunningham.

Cross burnings oftentimes were part of a broader campaign of intimidation and

violence against particular targets.

It's been 40 years and now a deep wound is reopened on the heels of the deadly violence in Charlottesville

a local priest with former ties to the K K K. K. revealed his criminal past of burning

crosses and sending death threats.

Philip and Barbara Butler were newlyweds who just moved into their first house

in an all-white neighborhood in Prince George's County.

We got a phone call and told us that there was a cross. I don't know if it was

smoking or burning. I don't know which one it was. And our front job, I came out, there was

about six, seven foot crawls.

...