TUESDAY June 30, 2020 : CONFEDERACY'S LAST STAND, Photography and Text by ZUMA Press Atlanta Bureau Chief Robin Rayne. Award winning photojournalist and filmmaker. This story is about a confederate celbrator: Dent 'Wildman' Myers, who has owned and operated his Civil War surplus store in downtown Kennesaw, Georgia since 1971. Myers believes 'It's all history, and people need to learn it and know it,' sells Confederate and Ku Klux Klan relics because they are a part of history and not out of hate. Demonstrators protesting Myers 'attitudes' they say make minority residents feel unwelcome.
© zReportage.com Story of the Week #743: TUESDAY June 30, 2020 : CONFEDERACY'S LAST STAND, Photography and Text by ZUMA Press Atlanta Bureau Chief Robin Rayne. Award winning photojournalist and filmmaker. This story is about a confederate celbrator: Dent 'Wildman' Myers, who has owned and operated his Civil War surplus store in downtown Kennesaw, Georgia since 1971. Myers believes 'It's all history, and people need to learn it and know it,' sells Confederate and Ku Klux Klan relics because they are a part of history and not out of hate. Demonstrators protesting Myers 'attitudes' they say make minority residents feel unwelcome.

Fists clinched and raised high, symbolically Black Lives Matter protested outside of Wildman's Civil War Surplus Store in downtown Kennesaw, a small quiet city northwest of Atlanta. The Southern Museum of Civil War displays weapons nearby. To the southeast, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park has Civil War monuments and trails. BLM protestors gathered to protest, attitudes of store owner Mr. Myers. Calling him an outdated relic who needs to close his Civil War shop and “go away,” nearly 100 demonstrators gathered downtown Friday.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

DENT MYERS, 89, is well-known internationally for his Wildman's Civil War Surplus store as well as his opinions on race, often described as bigoted. Wildman's Civil War Surplus Store in downtown Kennesaw, a small quiet city northwest of Atlanta, Georgia. The Southern Museum of Civil War displays weapons nearby. To the southeast, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park has Civil War monuments and trails. Myers owns the store and the building that has housed his controversial shop for more than 40 years, displays Confederate antiques and books, as well as a decades-old Ku Klux Klan robe displayed in the back.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

Black Lives Matter demonstrator sticks her finger up in the air, as large mob gathers outside Wildman's Civil War Surplus shop in downtown Kennesaw, Georgia to protest the alleged racist and bigoted comments, attitudes and store's content.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

DENT MYERS, 89, self proclaimed, last of the confederates, watches from the second floor of the brick building that houses his shop Wildman's Civil War Relic and Antique Shop. A group of angry demonstrators gathered outside, were protesting the 89 year old owners obsession with what they see as a racist and bigoted past.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

A protestor wearing an American flag mask raises a fist at Wildman's store. Angry Black Lives Matter protestors gathered outside Dent Myers Civil War Relic and Antique Shop to protest the 89 year old owners obsession with what they see as a racist and bigoted artifacts from a long ago past.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

BILL WILLIAMS, 64, of Acworth, Georgia, wearing a T-Shirt that says 'ALL GUNS MATTER', is a regular visitor and customer to Myers Civil War Surplus shop. Williams is a strong advocate for open carry firearms laws. Bill was on the watch for protesters who were expected to arrive later in the day.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

Signs held by armed members of 'My Brother's Keeper' organization, with loaded AK-47 and handguns, keep watch on the crowd, saying: SANCTITY IN KKK IDEOLOGY IS NOT HONORING ANYONE. and LIVES WON'T MATTER UNTIL ALL LIVES MATTER. 'We want to make sure everyone stays safe' one of the heavily armed men stated. As a group of angry demonstrators gathered outside Wildman’s Civil War Surplus on Main Street. Mr. Myers owns the store and the building that has housed his controversial shop for more than 40 years. The protesters urged city officials for closure of the store, which displays Confederate antiques and books, as well as a decades-old Ku Klux Klan robe displayed in the back.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

DENT MYERS, 89, self proclaimed, last of the confederates, outside his Wildman's Civil War Relic and Antique Shop. Myers owns the store and the building that has housed his controversial shop for more than 40 years. Protesters have urged city officials to call for the closure of the store, which displays Confederate antiques and books, as well as a decades-old Ku Klux Klan robe displayed in the back. Dent believes in his right to show history.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

As Black Lives Matter demonstrators gather outside Wildman's Civil War Surplus shop in downtown Kennesaw to protest the alleged racist and bigoted comments, attitudes of the store's content. BUTCH BRADFORD, 70, opened his shirt to reveal a Beretta and Ruger pistols he carried, 'in case the protest turned ugly' he said. The town has an open carry law. Butch supports Dent's right to have his store.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

Black Lives Matter demonstrators gather outside Wildman's Civil War Surplus shop in downtown Kennesaw, Georgia to protest the alleged racist and bigoted comments, attitudes and store's content. .Pictured: A protester sustained minor injury when he was struck by car trying to leave the protest site. The car was driven by one of Dent Myers supporters.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

Police escorting an elderly woman driver, CLARA MOTE, after she hit accidentally struck a protester at a BLM march. The protestor was apart of the Black Lives Matter demonstration outside Wildman's Civil War Surplus shop in downtown Kennesaw. Clara is a friend and supporter of the store owner. The protestors are upset that his store still exists in this day and time. The store is known for its racist and bigoted items for sale.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

Signs saying: BLACK LIVES MATTER and JUSTICE PEACE and ONLY JUSTICE CAN BRING PEACE as BLM demostrates. Black Lives Matter demonstrators wearing facemasks gather outside Wildman's Civil War Surplus shop in downtown Kennesaw, Georgia to protest the 89 year old owners obsession with what they see as a racist and bigoted artifacts from a long ago past.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

A protestor with a megaphone holds a sign stating 'Black Lives Matter' during a demonstration outside Wildman's Civil War Surplus shop in downtown Kennesaw.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

Dent Myers supporters watch the Black Lives Matter demonstrators from outside Wildman's Civil War Surplus shop in downtown Kennesaw.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

Wearing facemarks and holding banners a group of Black Lives Matter demonstrators gather outside Wildman's Civil War Surplus shop in downtown Kennesaw.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

GREG MATHIS, 68, proudly holds up a wooden craving, in the shape of a middle finger. As Black Lives Matter demonstrators gather outside Dent's Wildman's Civil War Surplus shop in downtown Kennesaw, to protest the racist and bigoted items sold there. Greg stands tall with his obscene gesture craving as part of his way of supporting Dent and the store.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

Self proclaimed 'last confederate' 'Wildman’s Civil War Surplus on Main Street. Mr. Myers owns the store and the building that has housed his controversial shop for more than 40 years. Part of his display is a vintage t-shirt, used as a seat cover, part of why people are protesting its' racist content. The protesters urged city officials for closure of the store, which displays Confederate antiques and books, as well as a decades-old Ku Klux Klan robe displayed in the back.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

A young protestor holds a sign saying: EMBRACING AMERICAN RACISM IS NOT ''PRESERVING HISTORY''. Part of a group of angry demonstrators gathered outside Wildman's Civil War Relic and Antique Shop Friday to protest the 89-year-old owners obsession with what they see as a racist and bigoted past.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

BLM protester with sign saying: 'GLORIFICATION OF THE OLD SOUTH IS VIOLENCE', outside Wildman's Civil War relic shop. A group of angry demonstrators gathered outside Dent Myers Civil War Relic and Antique Shop Friday to protest the 89-year-old owners obsession with what they see as a racist and bigoted past.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

Self proclaimed 'last confederate' DENT MYERS in his cluttered office in back of his 'Wildman's Civil War Surplus shop.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

DENT MYERS, 89, self proclaimed, last of the confederates, leaves his brick building that houses his Wildman's Civil War Relic and Antique Shop. A group of angry demonstrators gathered outside his shop Friday, were protesting the 89-year-old owners obsession with what they see as a racist and bigoted past.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire

Dent Myers, gun rights supporter and owner of Wildman's Civil War Relic shop, is perhaps the town's most colorful local resident. His prized portrait of Civil War General Stonewall Jackson, whom Myers believes he is reincarnated from.
© Robin Rayne/ZUMA Wire