Thomas Robb (Ku Klux Klan)

Thomas Robb (born 1946) is an American white supremacist, Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard and Christian Identity pastor.[1][2] He is the National Director of the Knights Party, also known as the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan,[3] taking control of the organization in 1989.[2]

Thomas Robb
Born1946 (age 76–77)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Known forLeader of the Ku Klux Klan
TitleNational director of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan
Pastor of the Christian Revival Center

Early life

Robb was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Tucson, Arizona.[2] He attended college in Colorado.[2]

Christian Identity and Klan activities

As of April 2023, Robb is the pastor of the Christian Revival Center in Zinc, Arkansas, a Christian Identity center where Robb espouses racism and antisemitism. Robb's "Thomas Robb Ministries" website declares that "the Anglo Saxon [sic], Germanic, Scandinavian, and kindred people are THE people of the Bible."[2]

In 1989, Robb took over the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, originally led by David Duke. In a bid to gain mainstream acceptance, he took the title of "National Director" instead of "Imperial Wizard", and chose to rename the organization "The Knights Party".[2] He also decided to accept members via mail-in forms, rather than through initiation rites that had been common Klan practice in the past.[2] Robb defends the Klan as a harmless organization, claiming that it is "gentle, upbeat, and friendly";[4] when featured in the PBS documentary Banished, Robb compared a Klan hood to a businessman's tie, claiming that "it's just tradition".[5]

Robb has maintained ties to other far-right groups; he has spoken at the Aryan Nations' annual "World Congress" of hate group leaders, appeared on Jamie Kelso's white supremacist Voice of Reason Radio Network, and contributed regularly to the white supremacist Internet forum Stormfront.[2] In 1996, Robb began to pioneer the concept that white people were being targeted for genocide.

In 2009, Robb's daughter Rachel Pendergraft and his granddaughters, Charity and Shelby Pendergraft, formed a white nationalist band called Heritage Connection.[6]

Robb's Party publishes The Crusader, a quarterly publication. In November 2016, just days before the presidential election, Robb wrote a front-page article under the title "Make America Great Again" in The Crusader, devoted to a lengthy endorsement of Donald Trump and Trump's message. The Trump campaign responded by denouncing the Crusader article.[7]

In May 2022, English YouTuber Niko Omilana published a video documenting his experiences in Zinc and Harrison whilst disguising himself as a journalist for the BBC. The video includes an interview with Robb, where Robb unwittingly shouts out fake Instagram users whose names phoneticize phrases such as "BLM" (Black Lives Matter).[8] Youtuber Jidion had a similar plan as Omilana but was shut down and didn't get an interview with Robb.

In April 2023, reports began to circulate about Robb's death, however, that was quickly contradicted by his church, who said Robb was in "excellent health."[9]

References
  1. Conant, Eve (May 4, 2009). "Rebranding Hate in the Age of Obama". Newsweek. Archived from the original on May 23, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2009.
  2. "Thomas Robb". Southern Poverty Law Center. Archived from the original on September 9, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  3. Jones, Jonathan D. (October 18, 2006). "Ku Klux Klan files suit against Rhino Times". News & Record. Archived from the original on June 9, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2008.
  4. Ronson, Jon (2001). "New Klan". Archived from the original on May 15, 2008.
  5. Maguire, Ellen (February 9, 2008). "PBS's 'Banished' Exposes the Tainted Past of Three White Enclaves". Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 11, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  6. "Another Adorable White-Power Sister Act". Southern Poverty Law Center. August 6, 2009. Archived from the original on August 9, 2009. Retrieved August 15, 2008.
  7. Holley, Peter (November 2, 2016). "KKK's official newspaper supports Donald Trump for president". Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 8, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  8. Browning, Oliver (May 16, 2022). "YouTuber pranks KKK leader into saying 'BLM' during fake BBC interview". The Independent. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  9. "Pastor Robb Alive and Well – Christian Revival Center – Love God and Love Your People".
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