Klan Museum in South Carolina Now Owned by Black Church

redneck_shop.jpgLaurens, SC – After a four-year legal battle, a black Baptist church in Laurens, South Carolina now is the legal owner of a building housing the infamous Redneck Shop located in the old Echo Theater building just off the Laurens Historic Square.

A member of the Klan broke ranks with the K.K.K. in 1997, renounced the Klan, and apologized to the local community. He also reportedly signed ownership of the property to Rev. David Kennedy’s New Beginning’s Missionary Baptist church. However, Redneck Shop operator John Howard was given a "life estate" in the old Echo Theater property, which has allowed continued operation of the site that claims to be "The Worlds’ Only KKK Museum." 

Even though actual ownership of the building was transferred to Rev. Kennedy’s church, Kennedy filed suit in 2008, after being unable to inspect the property that was deeded to his organization.

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Rev. David Kennedy  

 
Rev. Kennedy said he can’t wait to turn the landmark "into a place of diversity. I don’t want that business there. When our church takes over in full, that’s when that business will end. Basically, we just think it’s a matter of time – but soon." 

The minister said he already has been approached by civic leaders in Laurens and with others who have discussed turning the building into a fine arts center for youth or an auditorium for civic events. "There’s even talk about turning it into a theater again," he said, as well as discussions about moving the New Beginnings church into the building, but some members of the congregation are fearful of repercussions.

"I don’t want fear to overtake us again," Kennedy said. "At this point, we know it will be a place of diversity – where diversity isn’t talked about but lived and celebrated," he said.

Kennedy didn’t rule out the possibility of allowing the current tenant, former Klan leader John Howard, to peacefully remove his merchandise.