One week before the U.S. Presidential election, Hopewell Baptist Church in Greenville, Mississippi was set ablaze and the words “Vote Trump” were spray-painted on its side. Here’s what the disturbing scene looked like.
Although nobody knew who did it or their motivations at the time, many immediately and irresponsibly categorized it as a hate crime. As CNN reported:
Investigators continue to collect evidence, and there are no suspects yet, Greenville Police Chief Delando Wilson said at the news conference. Later, Wilson told CNN that police brought in a person of interest Wednesday afternoon and “are interviewing this person to determine if they had any participation in this event or if we can clear them.” Police are investigating multiple motives, including that the fire could be a hate crime.
Mayor Errick Simmons said he spoke to some of the church’s 200 congregants who were fearful and felt intimidated. They felt the vandalism was not just an attack on the church, but on the black community, he said.
“It happened in the ’50s, it happened in the ’60s, but we’re in 2016 and that should not happen,” he said.
Fortunately, that’s not what happened. As the AP just reported:
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi authorities arrested a man Wednesday in the burning of an African-American church that was also spray-painted with the words, “Vote Trump.”
Andrew McClinton of Leland, Mississippi, was charged with first degree arson of a place of worship, said Warren Strain, spokesman for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. McClinton is African-American.
McClinton was arrested in Greenville, where Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church was burned and vandalized Nov. 1, a week before the presidential election.
An investigation continues, but a state official said authorities don’t believe politics was the reason for the fire.
“We do not believe it was politically motivated. There may have been some efforts to make it appear politically motivated,” Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney, who is also the state fire marshal, told The Associated Press.
After the fire, Hopewell congregants began worshipping in a chapel at predominantly white First Baptist Church of Greenville. The Hopewell bishop, Clarence Green, said last month the generosity of First Baptist demonstrates that “unlimited love” transcends social barriers. James Nichols, senior pastor at First Baptist, said the Hopewell members are welcome to stay as long as they need a home.
The reason I highlight this is to remind everyone that the smart thing to do is not to jump to conclusions on events before evidence emerges. As we should all know by now, not everything is as it seems.
In Liberty,
Michael Krieger
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