Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 20 June 1996 — Page 2

The Muncie Times, June 20,1996, Page 2

»EDIT0RIAJC

National Effort needed to stop black church burnings

By now everybody who is reasonably awake is aware of the recent upsurge in the burning of African American churches in the South. Over the past 18 months at least 30 churches have perished at the hands of rampaging criminals. In fact, some might describe the problem as approaching epidemic proportions. At least 30 African American churches have been gutted by fires that appear to have been deliberately set. It saddens us to think that there are criminals out there who are so conscienceless that they would torch God’s houses of prayer. What is this country coming to that such evil people are allowed to run

loose perpetrating these types of crimes? What do they hope to achieve by this brand of arson terrorism? What can motivate these slimy snakes to target churches for burning? We are at a loss to understand how, in the late 90s, there can still be such people among us. It is hard to understand someone who targets houses of worship for arson. We can only surmise that there are some racial extremists out there who are behind this vicious and villainous campaign — people who want to fan the flames of racial hatred and racial divisiveness. They must not be allowed to succeed. We are disgusted to see this

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dastardly crime being committed by people who seem motivated by blatant racism. A way has to be found to stop these arsonists. Worshippers of all races, including African Americans, need to be reassured that their churches are safe. This is an issue that transcends pohtics. It calls for swift and decisive national action, lest it spread even more. We were pleased to see President Clinton going to the South to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with pastors and parishioners whose churches had been burned down. We hope for a similar gesture from Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole. These criminals ought to know that the country’s political leadership, regardless of other differences, is united behind a campaign to end church burnings once and for all. The criminals responsible for the arson should expect no quarter. They should get no quarter. We would like to see the U.S. Congress pass, as a matter of urgency, legislation that would make it a federal crime to bum churches. The nation needs to send a clear and unequivocal message to those responsible that they cannot run and they cannot hide. They will be found.

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