Danvers Store Pulls "KKK" Key Chains After Social Media Furor

DANVERS, MA -- The manager of the Hallmark Store at the Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers said he will no longer sell a key chain that some shoppers found offensive. The key chain had the white initials KKK on a red background and were, according to the manager, part of a series of initial-laden key chains. In a Facebook post, Douglas Williams said the store has sold more than 10,000 of the key chains over the past 12 years, but they only became an issue when a photo of the product was posted on Facebook.

"This is yet another example of political correctness gone too far...this is the first time in over 12 years that the store has received a complaint," Williamson wrote Monday morning. "There was no intent by our store or the manufacturer to promote or have any association with a racist organization...This product is carried by hundreds if not thousands of retailers across the country, including another retailer in our own Mall."

But in a follow-up post a few hours later, Williamson said the store had ordered replacement key chains from the manufacturer, which added a fourth K to the design after similar complaints.

Williamson, who was not immediately available for comment Wednesday afternoon, said the person who originally posted the photo moved it from its spot between the J and L key chains and put it next to an "I Love Jesus" key chain "for effect."

People commenting on the post were mostly skeptical of Williamson's explanations, even after he said the store was no longer selling the key chains.

"And it took 12 years for you to be caught. 12 years of not thinking or caring," one of them wrote.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).