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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAnother Historically Black Church in South Carolina Burns
The Clarendon County Fire Department said shortly before midnight ET that the fire was under control, but it released a photo showing the church with its roof apparently completely collapsed.
Williamsburg County Fire Chief Randy Swinton told NBC News it wasn't known whether the fire was intentionally set, noting that a lightning storm passed through the area about the same time the blaze was reported.
No injuries were immediately reported, but The Kingstree News of Williamsburg County reported that the church was "gutted."
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/another-historically-black-church-south-carolina-burning-n384876
The last time (1995) it was burned to the ground by two Ku Klux Klan members. 20-years later and it's burned once again There's so much I would like to add here, but I don't yet know if this is an arson. I will say this could well be a catalyst to garnering the media attention to the recent burnings of black churches. I understand two of those churches were possible accidents (a tree limb falling on electrical wires, and one a possible lightening strike), but that does not take anything away from the other four which last I knew of were being investigated as arson. There may be more I've missed this week. I've been trying to stay on top of the issue, but it's not as readily reported in the media as the things they think they can twist about to lure in hordes of "shocked" readers/viewers.
AuntPatsy
(9,904 posts)herding cats
(19,567 posts)That's a strong possibility here. I admit it's my first thought as well.
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)No white churches. It's no fucking accident, it's domestic Terrorism. If the NG can be called out against protesting students, then surely it can be called out to guard churches.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)Rightwing domestic terrorism. All fires at black churches are hate crimes until proven other in my book. This should not be discounted or ignored. I read the FBI is going over one scene as a possible hate crime. There have been sporadic pro-Confederate demonstrations since Charleston.
JMHO.
Electric Monk
(13,869 posts)Behind the Aegis
(53,986 posts)They are cowards and yes, they are terrorists. These aren't attacks on Christians, these are attacks on all African-Americans, no matter their religious affiliation.
romanic
(2,841 posts)I hate to think cowardly racists would actually act out thier hate.