Black church in South Carolina declared landlord of KKK gift shop

[n2doc]

A judge in South Carolina has declared a black church to be the lawful owner of a building that is home to a store that peddles Ku Klux Klan paraphernalia -- although it isn't quite clear if the ruling will impede the sale of the racist stuff anytime soon.

The latest chapter in this long, weird and disturbing tale out of Laurens, S.C. -- about an hour northwest of the capital city of Columbia -- comes courtesy of Meg Kinnard of the Associated Press, who reports that Rev. David Kennedy and his New Beginnings church have been declared the rightful owners of an old theater building that houses the Redneck Shop, which trades in Klan robes, T-shirts with ethnic slurs and, according to its website, "bumperstickers, belts, mens and womens [sic] swimsuits, one or two piece, cotton or nylon flags, bird houses, and you name it..."

The ruling will apparently allow Kennedy to inspect the building, something he had been unable to do for years. But Kinnard reports that it isn't clear if the judge's ruling means the shop will be closed.

If it remains open, it will be difficult to imagine a more awkward landlord-tenant relationship.


more

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2012/01/racist_gift_store.html

[HappyMe]

1. Well, here's karma on the job.

I'm kind of scared/worried for the church people.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

2. Certainly cause for concern but at the end of the day

It all seems so delicious.

[DeathToTheOil]

3. I wonder what the "property rights" crowd will have to say about THIS?

K'd & R'd.

[Erose999]

4. Crazy stuff, for sure.

[GReedDiamond]

5. This situation sounds like the basis for a really entertaining "reality" tv show...nt

[TreasonousBastard]

6. As always, there is more to this story...

http://www2.counton2.com/news/2010/may/14/reality_of_race_redneck_shop_a_hotbed_of_hate-ar-533303/

[Lint Head]

7. I was born in this area of SC. This is typical and there are many more shops and racist merchandise

being sold in the State in stores you would not expect. I was born there and left when I was old enough to be on my own. My parents and family remained but I could not longer take the racism and bigotry that was and still present there. SC was the first State to secede from the Union and a lot of the population is very proud of that. The bigoted and powerful rich live to Hilton Head.

[kestrel91316]

8. Eventually their lease will run out. The good Reverend should then offer a new lease,

at $1 million/month, plus 50% of the gross.

[LiberalFighter]

9. If there was a lease wouldn't payments be made to the church?

And if payments were made to the church wouldn't that mean the church was recognized as the owner by the renter? Doesn't look that way.

So if lease payments were made the KKK were there illegally and can be evicted anytime. And should be taken to court for nonpayment of rent if possible.

The caveat though would be that the church would have to pay taxes on that income.