Investigations

Kansas Business Owner Says KKK Left Calling Cards

Feb. 28, 2012

Business owner John Love isn't intimidated by two calling cards allegedly left at his southeast Topeka business by the Ku Klux Klan.

"I'm from the South, so I'm used to it," said Love, who opened Love's Fish Market three weeks ago at 2511 S.E. California Ave.

Love has been a Topeka business owner for more than 30 years.

Two business cards were left at his new business Thursday.

"The cashier came in and gave them to my daughter," Love said Monday afternoon.

The first card has a rider on a horse and says "You have been paid a friendly visit by the Ku Klux Klan" and "Should we pay you a real visit."

The second card stated "You have just been helped by a knight of the Ku Klux Klan."

Although Love, who is black, said he wasn't intimidated by the calling cards, he said he decided to file a police report. The original cards were taken by the police, he said.

"We do have a report," said Topeka Police Capt. Jerry Stanley. "We are investigating it."

Stanley said he wasn't aware of any other KKK calling cards left at Topeka businesses.

There have been other reports throughout the years from across the United States of KKK calling cards being left at businesses and in neighborhoods.

Topeka was the site of a large Ku Klux Klan rally in July 1923, according to previous Topeka Capital-Journal articles.

The Klan was formed in the South soon after the Civil War, previous articles have stated. It was re-established in 1915 as a fraternal group for white, native-born, Anglo-Saxon Protestants. KKK membership in Kansas rose close to 100,000 at its height in 1924. In July 1923, more than 1,200 Klan members staged a parade six blocks long in Topeka.

Love moved to Topeka in 1964. He owns Love Enterprise Inc. and operates a moving and construction business, as well as the newly opened Fish Market.

"I want people to be aware of this," Love said. "I got a good crew here. I don't want something like this to mess it up."

Ann Marie Bush can be reached

at (785) 295-1207

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