Christian Knights of the KKK

The Christian Knights of the KKK is a Ku Klux Klan organization.

SPLC lawsuit

The Macedonia Baptist Church is a centuries-old historically Black church that was destroyed by arson in 1995. Four individuals were convicted for involvement in the arson and other crimes.

In 1998, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) filed a civil lawsuit against the Christian Knights of the KKK and its leader, Horace King, alleging incitement. Two of those convicted testified for the SPLC in return for reduced sentences. The organization stated that they never encouraged or authorized anyone to break the law. The case was decided by nine Black and three White jurors. The organization was ordered to pay $37.8 million, $12.6 million more than even the SPLC requested. It was later reduced to $12.5 million. The verdict included $300,000 in actual damages and $37.5 million in punitive damages. King, despite not being criminally convicted of involvement in the arson, was ordered to pay $15 million himself while the four men in prison were ordered to pay $100,000 to $200,000 each.