Photos: Former Redneck Shop notorious for neo-Nazi meetings soon to become community center for Laurens
- Updated
Rev. David Kennedy, a pastor at New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church fought for years in protest outside of the notorious Redneck Shop inside of the old Echo Theater. The Redneck Shop once sold KKK robes and swastikas and hosted neo-Nazi meetings before closing in the early 2000s. Kennedy is now the owner and he hopes to transform the space to benefit the community.Â
The Rev. David Kennedy in front of the Echo Theater, which once housed the Redneck Shop in Laurens. Kennedy, pastor of New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church in nearby Clinton, spent years protesting the shop. Now he's working to transform the building into a community center. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
A view of the screening room inside of the former Echo Theater. Out front, the Redneck Shop once sold KKK and Nazi items. In this room, in the late 1990s and 2000s, the Klan and American Nazi Party held their meetings. A faded swastika can be seen on the back wall. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
The Rev. David Kennedy holds a KKK matchbook he found inside the former Echo Theater on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, in Laurens. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
The Rev. David Kennedy keeps a few photos at his church to remind visitors about the history of the Echo Theater in downtown Laurens. This image shows a meeting of neo-Nazis inside the old theater. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
A confederate flag emblem remains on the marquee of the Echo Theater in Laurens. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
The Rev. David Kennedy, pastor of New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church, uses his phone light along the back wall of the Echo Theater, where a faded swastika can be seen. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
Clarence Simpson at New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020 in Clinton. Andrew J. Whitaker/ Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
The Rev. David Kennedy uses his phone light to look through old documents and photographs left inside the former Echo Theater on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, in Laurens. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
An old newspaper clipping about hate groups found in the basement of the Echo Theater building on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. The building in Laurens once housed the Redneck Shop and museum. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
The Echo Theater, seen here on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, is located in the historic district of Laurens. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
A confederate monument in memory of the Boys in Gray that was erected in 1910 on the square in Laurens. File/Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
The Rev. David Kennedy (from left), Russel Smith and Regan Freeman outside the former Echo Theater in Laurens, where the notorious Redneck Shop once was located. The rundown building has been closed since 2012. An effort now is underway to renovate it. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
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The Rev. David Kennedy in front of the Echo Theater, which once housed the Redneck Shop in Laurens. Kennedy, pastor of New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church in nearby Clinton, spent years protesting the shop. Now he's working to transform the building into a community center. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
A view of the screening room inside of the former Echo Theater. Out front, the Redneck Shop once sold KKK and Nazi items. In this room, in the late 1990s and 2000s, the Klan and American Nazi Party held their meetings. A faded swastika can be seen on the back wall. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
The Rev. David Kennedy holds a KKK matchbook he found inside the former Echo Theater on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, in Laurens. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
The Rev. David Kennedy keeps a few photos at his church to remind visitors about the history of the Echo Theater in downtown Laurens. This image shows a meeting of neo-Nazis inside the old theater. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
A confederate flag emblem remains on the marquee of the Echo Theater in Laurens. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
The Rev. David Kennedy, pastor of New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church, uses his phone light along the back wall of the Echo Theater, where a faded swastika can be seen. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
Clarence Simpson at New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020 in Clinton. Andrew J. Whitaker/ Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
The Rev. David Kennedy uses his phone light to look through old documents and photographs left inside the former Echo Theater on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, in Laurens. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
An old newspaper clipping about hate groups found in the basement of the Echo Theater building on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. The building in Laurens once housed the Redneck Shop and museum. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
The Echo Theater, seen here on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, is located in the historic district of Laurens. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
A confederate monument in memory of the Boys in Gray that was erected in 1910 on the square in Laurens. File/Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com
The Rev. David Kennedy (from left), Russel Smith and Regan Freeman outside the former Echo Theater in Laurens, where the notorious Redneck Shop once was located. The rundown building has been closed since 2012. An effort now is underway to renovate it. Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
- By Andrew Whitaker awhitaker@postandcourier.com