Black Mississippi Church Burned, Vandalized With ‘Vote Trump’
The Trump campaign issued a statement Wednesday night condemning the act.
A historically black church in Greenville, Mississippi was burned Tuesday night and vandalized with the spray painted words “Vote Trump.” No injuries were reported.
Greenville Mayor Errick Simmons called the fire “a direct assault on people’s right to free worship” and “an attack on the black church and the black community.” Greenville Police Chief Freddie Cannon called it “a form of voting intimidation.”
Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church is 111 years old and home to 200 congregants. About 80 percent of the building was destroyed, with Greenville Fire Chief Ruben Brown Sr. confirming that the fire was set by someone, The Associated Press reported.
A state fire marshal, right, and a ATF agent collect evidence as they investigate the fire damaged Hopewell M.B. Baptist Church in Greenville, Miss., Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016. “Vote Trump” was spray-painted on an outside wall of the black member church. Fire Chief Ruben Brown tells The Associated Press that firefighters found flames and smoke pouring from the sanctuary of the church just after 9 p.m. Tuesday.
“Our hearts are broken, but we are not angry,” Rev. Carilyn Hudson of Hopewell told The Clarion-Ledger. “We are saddened, but we do know that all things work together for good to those that love the Lord.”
WDAM-TV reports that police are “speaking with a person of interest,” but haven’t released any more details about a suspect.
Simmons told The Clarion-Ledger that while the word “n—–” was painted on a Greenville boat ramp in September, race relations in the predominantly black city are generally healthy. He mentioned a joint worship service held in the city every fifth Sunday for people of different races to come together.
Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann discouraged people from jumping to conclusions about the attack. The Republican told WDAM-TV that “the initial work here indicates this is not of a political nature, even though there may be something that says ‘vote Trump’ on the side of the church.” He added that regardless of the motivation, “whoever did this needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Period.”
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said “anyone who burns a place of worship will answer to almighty God for this crime against people of faith,” The Associated Press reported. “But they should also answer to man’s law.”
The arson follows other recent acts of violence that have preceded Election Day. In mid October, the Orange County Republican headquarters in North Carolina was firebombed and vandalized with the words “Nazi Republicans get out of town or else.” The attack was decried by Republicans and Democrats, including both presidential candidates.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s campaign issued a statement about the Hopewell attack Wednesday night:
“We are deeply saddened for the members of the Hopewell M.B. Church community and condemn in the strongest terms this terrible act that has no place in our society. We are grateful that no one was hurt and we urge witnesses with any information to come forward and help bring justice to those who are responsible.”
Trump campaign statement on Mississippi church arson pic.twitter.com/d6PnyVuHBR
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) November 2, 2016
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton also condemned the act, tweeting, “The perpetrators who set the Hopewell M.B. Church in MS on fire must be brought to justice. This kind of hate has no place in America.”
The perpetrators who set the Hopewell M.B. Church in MS on fire must be brought to justice. This kind of hate has no place in America. -H
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) November 3, 2016
On Tuesday night, the same night the church was targeted, Trump’s campaign issued a statement rejecting the support of a Ku Klux Klan newspaper. The paper had run an ad featuring his campaign slogan and his photo.
“Mr. Trump and the campaign denounces hate in any form,” the statement read. “This publication is repulsive and their views do not represent the tens of millions of Americans who are uniting behind our campaign.”
A Go Fund Me account set up for the church had raised over $160,000 as of Thursday morning.