"Vote Trump" Painted on Burned Mississippi Black Church
Jerry Mitchell
The Clarion-Ledger 5:28 p.m. CDT November 2, 2016
(Photo: Rogelio V. Solis/AP)
Authorities investigating a historically black church burned Tuesday night in Greenville also found “Vote Trump” spray-painted on the side.
Mayor Errick D. Simmons called the attack on the century-old Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church “a heinous, hateful and cowardly act,” which is being investigated as a possible hate crime.
“This act is a direct assault on people’s right to freely worship,” he said. “We will not rest until the culprit is found and fully prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
It's the latest violence during a presidential election cycle that has turned increasingly ugly. Last month, someone burned a Republican headquarters in North Carolina, spray-painting a message on the side of the building, “Nazi Republicans leave town or else.”
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant decried the burning as a “despicable crime against people of faith,” saying he expected someone would be brought to justice.
The FBI has been notified of the incident, which is also being investigated by the state fire marshal's office, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and local authorities.
“The FBI Jackson Division is aware of the situation in Greenville,” said spokesman Brett Carr, “and we are working with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to determine if any civil rights crimes were committed.”
Greenville officials said anyone with information about the fire should contact 662-378-TIPS.
Police Chief Delando Wilson said investigators worked all night to collect evidence. “At this moment, they’re interviewing possible witnesses,” he said. “We don’t have any suspects at this time. We are talking to a person of interest.”
He knows of no surveillance video that might have captured images of those responsible.
Fire Chief Ruben Brown Sr. said the fire department received a call at 9:16 p.m., finding the church engulfed in flames.
Hopewell received heavy water and smoke damage, he said. “The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation. Samples have been taken.”
The Rev. Carilyn F. Hudson, the pastor of Hopewell, said her congregation of 200 members plans to rebuild.
“Our hearts are broken, but we are not angry,” she said. “We are saddened, but we do know that all things work together for good to those that love the Lord.”
Simmons saw the burning as “an attack on the black church and the black community,” he said. “This happened in the ‘50s and the ‘60s. This should not happen in 2016.”
Asked about any previous vandalism, Simmons said the word “n-----“ had been scrawled in September on a boat ramp, which city workers painted over.
Despite this, the mayor said the racial climate in the river town remains good, pointing to a regular gathering of those crossing the color line to worship together each fifth Sunday on the levee.
“The only way to conquer hate is love,” he said. “We must show love, respect and dignity to each other.”
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson called the burning “a deeply shocking and saddening event that harkens back to a much darker day in Mississippi.”
He urged “all citizens not to be deterred by this cowardly act and exercise your right to vote at the ballot box.”
Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann told WDAM-TV that he understands the initial investigation suggests the act may not have been political.
“Everybody needs to calm down here until we get to the bottom of this,” he said, “but when we get there, whoever did this needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Period.”
Sarah Kramer, editor of The Delta-Democrat Times, worries about the river city she loves.
“We are retreating, and racial divides are heightened,” she wrote in a column. “This election has brought out the worst in people. Families are fighting; friendships have ended. But to let that anger and hatred resonate in our community, our home, is not the answer.”
A gofundme.org fund has been established to raise money for the church, telling readers, “Can we help show the world, the country, and most importantly, the churchgoers of Hopewell Baptist that we, as a society, are better than this?”
Contact Jerry Mitchell at jmitchell@gannett.com or (601) 961-7064. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
The Clarion-Ledger 5:28 p.m. CDT November 2, 2016
(Photo: Rogelio V. Solis/AP)
Authorities investigating a historically black church burned Tuesday night in Greenville also found “Vote Trump” spray-painted on the side.
Mayor Errick D. Simmons called the attack on the century-old Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church “a heinous, hateful and cowardly act,” which is being investigated as a possible hate crime.
“This act is a direct assault on people’s right to freely worship,” he said. “We will not rest until the culprit is found and fully prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
It's the latest violence during a presidential election cycle that has turned increasingly ugly. Last month, someone burned a Republican headquarters in North Carolina, spray-painting a message on the side of the building, “Nazi Republicans leave town or else.”
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant decried the burning as a “despicable crime against people of faith,” saying he expected someone would be brought to justice.
The FBI has been notified of the incident, which is also being investigated by the state fire marshal's office, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and local authorities.
“The FBI Jackson Division is aware of the situation in Greenville,” said spokesman Brett Carr, “and we are working with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to determine if any civil rights crimes were committed.”
Greenville officials said anyone with information about the fire should contact 662-378-TIPS.
Police Chief Delando Wilson said investigators worked all night to collect evidence. “At this moment, they’re interviewing possible witnesses,” he said. “We don’t have any suspects at this time. We are talking to a person of interest.”
He knows of no surveillance video that might have captured images of those responsible.
Fire Chief Ruben Brown Sr. said the fire department received a call at 9:16 p.m., finding the church engulfed in flames.
Hopewell received heavy water and smoke damage, he said. “The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation. Samples have been taken.”
The Rev. Carilyn F. Hudson, the pastor of Hopewell, said her congregation of 200 members plans to rebuild.
“Our hearts are broken, but we are not angry,” she said. “We are saddened, but we do know that all things work together for good to those that love the Lord.”
Simmons saw the burning as “an attack on the black church and the black community,” he said. “This happened in the ‘50s and the ‘60s. This should not happen in 2016.”
Asked about any previous vandalism, Simmons said the word “n-----“ had been scrawled in September on a boat ramp, which city workers painted over.
Despite this, the mayor said the racial climate in the river town remains good, pointing to a regular gathering of those crossing the color line to worship together each fifth Sunday on the levee.
“The only way to conquer hate is love,” he said. “We must show love, respect and dignity to each other.”
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson called the burning “a deeply shocking and saddening event that harkens back to a much darker day in Mississippi.”
He urged “all citizens not to be deterred by this cowardly act and exercise your right to vote at the ballot box.”
Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann told WDAM-TV that he understands the initial investigation suggests the act may not have been political.
“Everybody needs to calm down here until we get to the bottom of this,” he said, “but when we get there, whoever did this needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Period.”
Sarah Kramer, editor of The Delta-Democrat Times, worries about the river city she loves.
“We are retreating, and racial divides are heightened,” she wrote in a column. “This election has brought out the worst in people. Families are fighting; friendships have ended. But to let that anger and hatred resonate in our community, our home, is not the answer.”
A gofundme.org fund has been established to raise money for the church, telling readers, “Can we help show the world, the country, and most importantly, the churchgoers of Hopewell Baptist that we, as a society, are better than this?”
Contact Jerry Mitchell at jmitchell@gannett.com or (601) 961-7064. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
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