Macedonia Baptist Church v. Christian Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, et al.
"The Church Arson Trial"
Klan leader apologizes for black church burning
August 6 (Court TV) -- Horace King, Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan chapter found liable for the 1995 fire that destroyed the Macedonia Baptist Church, formally apologized, saying that he regretted that anyone associated with the Klan had set the fire.
"The senseless destruction of God's house was wrong," King said in a written statement to the Macedonia Baptist Church's mostly black congregation. "I am sorry that anyone who ever had anything to do with the Christian Knights played any part in this."
Timothy Welch and Christopher Cox, two former Klansmen who pleaded guilty to setting the church on fire, testified last month that the Klan's teachings, particularly King's speeches, encouraged violent actions against blacks. King and Virgil Griffin, Imperial Wizard of North Carolina's Klan, repeatedly denied prior knowledge of Welch and Cox's plans to burn down the church. They also denied encouraging the church fire or any kind of violence against blacks. But on July 24, a jury found King, Griffin and the Klan itself responsible for the fire and awarded the Macedonia Baptist Church $37.8 million, including $300,000 in compensatory damages. King was ordered to pay $15 million.
The award against the Klan was nearly $13 million more than the plaintiffs sought in their suit. Even the lawyers who represented the Macedonia Baptist Church say it is doubtful the plaintiffs will ever see much of that money. Still, the verdict might put South Carolina's Christian Knights of the Ku Klux Klan out of business.
King still denies some responsibility for the fire. "If I had any way to have known of or prevented this tragedy, I would have," King said.
-- Bryan Robinson
Read the full text of King's unedited statement as printed in The Charlotte Observer below:
"The destruction of any church in any circumstance is a tragedy. As a
christian I believe a church is a house of God and all people should
have a place to worship God. I sincerely regret the destruction of the
sanctuary of the Macedonia church. If I had any way to have known of or
prevented this tragedy I would have. You have my continuing sympathy at
your loss. The senseless destruction of God's house was wrong. I am
sorry that anyone who ever had anything to do with the Christian Knights
played any part in this.
"I appreciate your expressions of christian concern for myself and my
family. I would like to return those concerns and ask if there is
anything I can do for the church to heal any wounds, you have suffered.
"If you would be agreeable to a meeting between Reverend Mouzon and
myself, with our attorneys, perhaps we could all come to a better
understanding of each other. There is a law above man's law.
"I am encouraged you are seeking God's will and looking to His Love
rather than man's law and vengeance. I certainly hold no malice toward
you who have suffered. I too have suffered. And Christ, Lord of us all,
has suffered more than all of us.
"I read the paper as you extending an invitation to me, I am welcoming
and responding to your christian invitation in what I hope is a
christian manner. I hope you will not judge me, but let God in His mercy
judge us all according to his wonderful Grace."
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