-
https://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/files/original/7ff5b9e622711b3fb2496c38b32b3a4a.pdf
ce4b6418b1af77eef1541c95dd529e14
PDF Text
Text
FOIA Number: 2006-0462-F
. FOIA
MAR~~~R
. This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
Presidential Library Staff.
i
Collection/Record Group:
Subgroup/Office of Origin:
Clinton Presidential Records
· Speechwriting
Series/Staff Member:
Terry Edmonds
Subseries:
..
10981
OA/ID Number:
FoldcriD:
Folder Title:
Church Burning Task Force
'
Stack:
s
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
0
0
0
��DEPART:MENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of Enforcement
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue., NW
Washington, DC 20220
Addressee's fax number:
FROM:
LjS?. - ~ '7tJ3
JAMES E. JOHNSON
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Telephone:
Fax:
202/622-0200
202/622-7154
DATE:
Number of pages to follow:
11/10"d
vS16.cc9 c0c
I tJ
. ld3G .J..c:lnSI:::J:3Cll
6v:v1
6551-91-N~I
�INTERIM REPORT FOR THE PRESIDENT
I Overview
Over the past year, a disturbing series of arsons and violent attacks on houses of worship
have traumatized the victim congregations and their communities, challenged law enforcement
agencies, and stirred the nation's conscience. In response to an outpouring of national concern,
President Clinton declared the investigation of these fires a top priority of federal law
enforcement, and directed his Administration to implement a three-pronged strategy to (1)
identify and prosecute the perpetrators~ (2) rebuild the burned churches~ and (3) prevent more
fires.
The report released today shows striking results on all fronts:
•
The rate Qf arrest (33%) in the church arson cases is double the general arrest rate for
arsons (16%). Federal and state authorities have arrested 143 suspects since January 1,
1995, in connection with 107 fires at churc~es and other houses ofworship. Three
quarters (104) of all defendants arrested in the last two years were arrested since June
1996, when the President established the National Church Arson Task Force (NCATF or
"Task Force") to oversee the investigation and prosecution of incidents of church arson.
Since January 1, 1995, 48 defendants have been convicted in federal and state
prosecutions in connection with fires at 43 houses ofworsh,ip. Overall, the NCATF has
opened investigations of328 arsons, bombings or attempted bombings that have occurred
at houses of worship between January I, 1995, and January 7, 1997.
•
The Department ofHousing and Urban Development (HUD) is working closely with the
National Council of Churches and the Congress ofNational Black Churches in the
rebuilding effort. As a result of this cooperation, ten churches have been rebuilt and 30
churches are undergoing construction. HUD is administering a $10 million Federal Loan
Guarantee Fund to assist with the rebuilding of houses of worship and other non-profit
organizations that have been damaged or destroyed by arson. This fund was established
by Congress as part of the 1996 Church Arson Prevention Act.
•
Arson prevention efforts are now underway across the nation. The Department of Justice
awarded $3 million in grants to counties in 13 states to intensify their enforcement and
surveillance efforts around wlnerab1e houses of worship, The Federal Emergency
'ld30 AC:JnStJ3C:ll
~v:v1
~661-91-NI:::Jf
�Management Agency (FEMA) established a Clearinghouse for arson prevention resources
that has received over 10,000 telephone inquiries from all 50 states and the District of
Columbia, and has distributed over 300,000 packets of arson prevention materials,
including the NCATF Church Threat Assessment Guide. FEMA efforts also include a
three city pilot project in Nashville, Charlotte and Macon to develop grass-roots arson
prevention programs.
Led byDeval L. Patrick, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, and James E.
Johnson, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (Enforcement), the NCATF formalized the
coordination of investigations already underway. The NCATF brought together the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the FBI, Justice Department prosecutors, the United
States Attorneys, victim/witness coordinators, the Community Relations Service and the U.S.
Marshals Service, in partnership with state and local officers and prosecutors.
As a result of this partnership, local task forces have been formed in the affected states,
and federal authorities have supported every prosecution. Their efforts have been aided
significantly by support from the Congress, which provided additional statutory authority and
resources for these investigations.
Well over 200 ATF and FBI investigators have been deployed and are working with over
75 federal prosecutors and state and local authorities. This is one ofthe largest series of arson
investigations in history and the largest current civil rights investigative effort. 1
.II. Strengthening the Federal Effort
A. Unifying the Federal Effort
In an investigative effort of this size and scope, coordination among federal agencies and
between state and federal law enforcement is essential. To that end, the Attorney General
directed U.S. Attorneys either to establish a local task force focusing on church arsons or to join
an existing local task force. These local task forces include state and local law enforcement and
fire protection officials, as well as representatives of the ATF, FBI, the Corrununity Relations
Service and victim/witness coordinators.
The local task forces in North and South Carolina are examples of effective coordination
between local and federal authorities. Where local task forces are still being developed, the
NCATF co-chairs will continue to work with the U.S. Attorneys and the agencies participating in
the Task Force to ensure maximum cooperation and effectiveness.
1
This Interim Report contains only public information. The fire and aTTest statistics in this
Report were complete as of January 7, 1997. The investigations are continuing.
2
'ld3G ,J.,C:tnStJ3Cil
Bv:v1
6661-91-NtJI
�In addition to the local task forces, the NCATF has an operations team in Washington
staffed by special agents ofthe ATF and the FBI and prosecutors on detail from the United States
Attorneys Offices around the nation and from the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division.
The director of this operations team is a senior experienced prosecutor. This team works with the
local task forces to investigate incidents as well as prosecute cases and analyze potential
connections among incidents. Due to the high priority of these matters, many federal cases are
prosecuted jointly by an NCATF prosecutor and an Assistant United States Attorney.
The expertise of the FBI in conducting civil rights investigations and the expertise of ATF
in conducting arson investigations, particularly in making cause and origin determinations, has
proven highly beneficial to the success of the NCATF.
The NCATF has taken the following steps in carrying out its responsibilities:
•
Investigative Protocol. The NCATF has established a protocol for its
investigations and prosecutions. This protocol sets forth procedures for
immediately exchanging information among task force agencies, developing an
investigative plan for each incident, and ensuring that investigators pursue all lines
of inquiry, including whether the crime was motivated by race or religion, and
whether any given incident is connected to any other.
•
Unified Database. The NCATF has created a database of statistical information
about ongoing investigations. The ATF and FBI databases and computer systems
are also used in Task Force operations to track and analyze evidence about attacks
on houses ofworship and to generate investigative leads.
•
Training. In late summer and early fall, the NCATF conducted training among its
constituent agencies. ATF experts trained FBI agents and Department of Justice
prosecutors in arson investigations. Civil Rights Division prosecutors and FBI
experts trained ATF agents in civil rights investigations and prosecutions.
•
Tip Line. The NCATF established a toll-free tip line for citizens to report
information on church arsons. That toll free number is 1-888-ATF-FlRE. To
date, NCATF had received more than 1200 calls through that service. The ATF
and FBI also are offering rewards for information in a number of arson cases.
•
Threat Assessment Guide. The NCATF updated and distributed a Church
Threat Assessment Guide containing valuable information on the steps that may be
taken to prevent fires at houses of worship and the steps to follow after an incident
has occurred. Working with FEMA, the Task Force has distributed over 300,000
of these booklets.
3
'1d3G ,J.,CfnSI:J3Cil
8P:P1
~661-91-NI:JI
�B. Outreach
Without the confidence and cooperation of the victim congregations, many of these
investigations, which were difficult at the outset, would have been destined to fail. The NCATF
took steps early on to ensure a solid, working relationship between law enforcement and the
affected communities.
Less than a week after being formalized, the NCATF met with FBI and ATF Special
Agents in Charge and U.S. Attorneys from the Southeast region to emphasize the critical
importance of pursuing the investigations with vigilance, determination and dispatch, as well as
with sensitivity to the needs of the victims.
The President, Vice President Gore, Secretary of the Treasury Robert Rubin and Attorney
General Janet Reno have worked to bring church arsons to national attention, speaking out
forcefully of the commitment of the Federal govenunent to solve these church arsons and meeting
with ministers from the churches burned. Secretary Rubin and Attorney General Reno instructed
Assistant Secretary Johnson and Assistant Attorney General Patrick to remain in close contact
with the affected communities. In addition to meeting regularly with representatives from the
National Council of Churches, the NAACP, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and
the Congressional Black Caucus, Assistant Secretary Johnson and Assistant Attorney General
Patrick have both travelled on numerous occasions throughout the South to meet with church and
1
community leaders and to view personally the devastation these arsons have wrought.
The investigators have played a crucial role in outreach efforts. As a student in Enid,
Oklahoma, Dewey Webb had helped move pews into the sanctuary of the First Missionary Baptist
Church. When he returned as ATF Resident Agent in Charge of the Oklahoma City Field Office,
it was to solve a crime, by sifting through the ashes of the burned-out sanctuary. But he was also
moved to assure the congregations that his team would proceed with compassion.
Similarly, in Boligee, Alabama, where the burning of three churches led the community to
initiate a model of racial reconciliation and community relations, Robert Langford, Special Agent
in Charge ofthe FBI's Binningham office, met with church leaders, worshiped with the victim
congregations and participated in hate crimes seminars. Most importantly, he demonstrated
through his actions that his team empathized with the victims and was doing its best to bring those
responsible to justice.
The Community Relations Service (CRS) also has been an important partner in Task
Force outreach efforts. CRS conciliators have worked in many communities affected by church
burnings to identify and resolve racial conflicts and reduce racial tensions, to foster healthy
relationships between law enforcement and minority communities and to facilitate
communications among all parties. The NCATF also developed and distributed to every ATF and
FBI supervisor and U. S. Attorney a "Best Practices" guide for conducting community outreach
activities.
4
'ld3a AC:JnstJ3C:Il
�C.
Working with Congress to Strengthening Statutory Authority and Increase
Resources
The support of Congress has been essential in responding to these crimes. When the Task
Force was fonned, the Federal government had authority under several statutes to investigate and
prosecute suspicious :fires at houses of worship. They include the Anti-Arson Act of 1982, which
makes it a federal crime to use fire to destroy property involved in interstate commerce (18
U.S.C. 844(i)), and criminal civil rights statutes that make it a federal crime to desecrate religious
property or a house ofworship or to conspire to deprive persons oftheir civil rights (18 U.S.C.
241 and 247).
On July 3, 1996, the President signed the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996, which
had been sponsored by Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), Senator Lauch Faircloth (R-NC),
Congressman Henry l Hyde (R-IL) and Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI). This statute,
passed unanimously by both Houses of Congress, amended 18 U.S. C. 247, to strengthen the
criminal law against church burning and desecration. The new law removed a cumbersome
interstate commerce requirement, eliminated a $10,000 damage requirement, and increased the
maximum sentence to 20 years imprisonment for arson.
The legislation also authorized a BUD loan guarantee program that can be used for church
rebuilding, and authorized additional personnel at the Treasury Department and the Justice
Department, including the Community Relations Service, to respond to the fires. Assistant
Attorney General Patrick and Assistant Secretary Johnson, representing the NCATF, testified
before House and Senate committees in support of this legislation, identifying the need for
amending the existing statut61y framework.·
In August 1996, in a supplemental appropriation for fiscalyear 1996, Congress provided
$12.011 million dollars to support ATF's role in the TaskForce. In September 1996, Congress
appropriated an additional $12.011 million dollars in ATF's fiscal year 1997 direct funding to
support arson investigations, particularly those directed toward religious institutions. Additional
funds for Task Force activities by the Justice Department and the FBI were also appropriated or
reprogrammed ..
DI. The Task Force. is Producing Results
Scope of the Problem: The NCATF has opened investigations of328 arsons, bombings
or attempted bombings that have occurred at houses of worship between January 1, 1995, and
January 7, 1997. This number does not include vandalism or other desecration at houses of
worship, which continue to be investigated and prosecuted by the FBI and the Civil Rights
Division. Nor does it include fires that the investigators have determined are accidental.
. Of these 328 arson investigations, at least 138 have been fires at African American
churches. Three quarters of the fires at African American churches have occurred in the southern
United States. Arsons at all houses of worship continue to be reported in significant numbers.
5
6v:vl
L66l-9l-N~r
�Indeed, the NCATF opened 28 arson investigations of incidents which occurred in October 1996,
24 arson investigations of incidents occurring in November 1996, and 11 investigations of arsons
occurring in December 1996.
Arrests: As a result of the exceptiona1 partnership among federal, state and local law
enforcement, many of the incidents investigated have been solved, mainly by a combination of
federal and state arrests and prosecutions. Since January 1995, arrests of 143 suspects have been
made in connection with 107 fires at churches and other houses ofworship. This rate of arrest
(33%) is significantly higher than the general arrest rate for arsons, which is approximately 16%,
according to Department of Justice statistics.
Since the formation of the Task Force, the number of arrests has increased significantly.
One hundred and four persons, representing three quarters of all defendants arrested since January
1995, were arrested following the formation ofthe Task Force.
Ofthe 143 persons arrested, 24 are African American, 3 are Hispanic and 116 are white.
Sixty-two are juveniles. Of the 54 suspects arrested for arsons at Afiican American churches, 36
are white, 11 are African American and 1 is Hispanic. Ofthe 85 suspects arrested for arsons at
non-African American houses of worship, 76 are white, 7 are African American, and 2 are
Hispanic. Four additional white suspects have been arrested for arsons at both African American
churches and non-African American churches.
Convictions: Since January 1, 1995, 48 defendants have been convicted in federal and
state prosecutions in connection with fires at 43 houses of worship. All but two of the remaining
cases are still pending tria1. 2 A list of the incidents in which a conviction has been obtained is
attached as Appendix 1. 3 These successes include the first convictions under the 1996 Church
Arson Prevention Act, 18 U.S. C. 247, as amended. Prosecutions in connection with 31 of the 43
incidents have occurred during the seven months since the formation of the Task Force.
Federal charges are pending in a number of cases, and grand jury investigations are
ongoing in many others. Conspiracy charges have been filed, and convictions obtained, in a
2
There have been two acquittals. On November 21, 1996, a defendant was acquitted by reason
ofinsanity for the June 10, 1996, arson at Our Most Sorrowfu1 Savior Catholic Church m Soap
Lake, Washington, and the June 141 1996, arson at the Community Evange1ical Church in Soap
Lake, Washington. He was indefimtely committed to the Eastern State HospitaL In October
1996, a lJ:..year old defendant was acquitted of state arson charges stemming from a fire that
caused $500 in damage to the Slaughterneck United Methodist Church in Milford Delaware.
The fire appeared to have been caused when a pile of1eaves was set on fire behind the church.
All of the other prosecutions have resulted in convictions or are still pending.
3
The list in Appendix 1 also includes convictions in connection with three incidents of vandalism
and a conviction in connection with one arson that occurred in 1994 but where the prosecution
occurred in 1995.
'
6
'ld3G )..CJnStl3Cll
0S:~1
6661-91-Ntlf
�number of cases involving small numbers of fires. Investigators continue to pursue the question
whether broader conspiracies were responsible for some· of the fires.
In still other cases, state prosecutions have been initiated in consultation with federal
prosecutors or investigators. The NCATF actively monitors these prosecutions to ensure that any
federal interest is vindicated and to ensure that accurate information is compiled regarding law
enforcement's response to attacks on houses of worship.
Continuing Workload. Arson cases are among the most difficult criminal cases to solve.
Forensic evidence is often destroyed with the fire. Moreover, because some of the churches
burned are located in isolated, rural areas, there are often no eye witnesses to the incident. For
these reasons, it can often take years to solve arson cases.
In additio~ the NCATF has been initiating investigations as new fires have occurred.
While the number of reported fires each month appears to have decreased from a peak in June
1996, there have been a substantial number of fires reported in each month since June. {See
Appendix 2 for a chart of fires reported by month.) As of January 7, 1997, there were 221
pending investigations where arrests had not been made. The NCATF remains committed to
expending the necessary time, resources and effort to solving these crimes and prosecuting those
who are responsible.
IV. Enhancing Arson Prevention Efforts.
The NCATF, as part of the federal response to church arson, participates in a coordinated
effort to enhance local and state programs to prevent fires at houses ofworship and to promote
arson awareness generally. The National Arson Prevention Initiative, spearheaded by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has focused on coordinating federal resources to
support community-based grass roots efforts to prevent arson.
•
Arson Prevention Clearinghouse. In June 1996, FEMA established a
Clearinghouse for arson prevention resources. To date, the Clearinghouse
has received over 10,000 telephone inquiries from aliSO states and the
District of Columbia, and responded to requests for over 300,000 packets
of arson prevention materials. Included in those materials is the Church
Threat Assessment Guide prepared by the NCATF, which informs
congregations about steps they can take to make their churches safer, as
well as steps to take after an incident has occurred.
7
1S:v1
~551-91-N~f
�•
Grants to local jurisdictions. The Department of Justice has awarded $3
million in grants to counties in 13 states to intensify their enforcement and
SuiVeillance efforts around vulnerable houses ofworship. The 13 states
were: Alabama, Florida, Georgial Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland,
Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas
and Virginia. In addition, FEMA re1eased $774,000 in training grants to
enhance state and local arson investigations and prevention capabilities.
These grants have been used to deliver National Fire Academy courses by
the state fire training organizations and also to support the training of state
and regional arson task forces.
•
Community outreach efforts. Forty-four VISTA and ArneriCorps
volunteers have been assigned to 18 rural communities in which church
arsons have occurred and to 73 other communities in Alabama, Georgia,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. In these
communities, volunteers conducted community and church threat
assessments, organized arson watch groups and town hall meetings on
arson prevention, and engaged in community relations projects.
•
Community healing efforts. CRS plays an integral part in
the Administration•s response in local towns and cities, working
with over 100 local communities in reducing racial polarization,
bridging law enforcement and minority communities, facilitating a
biracial rebuilding effort, and training law enforcement on cultural
diversity and race relations.
•
Training programs. The NCATF is working closely with FEMA. the
Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Sheriffs• Association and
southern governors to develop a series ofinterdisciplinary training
conferences and workshops on arson prevention that will be conducted in
thirteen targeted southern states in 1997. An additional four regional
conferences outside the southern region are also planned.
•
Community-based coalitions. FEMA has developed a pilot community
action program for arson prevention in three communities: Nashville,
Tennessee, Charlottel North Carolina, and Macon, Georgia. A coalition of
fire prevention personnel, law enforcement, community, school and
business leaders will be recruited to develop local arson prevention
programs. These can include workshops on juvenile firesetters, an arson
risk assessment survey, an arson hot-line, improved building and fire code
enforcement and neighborhood watch programs.
8
. ld::JQ Ac:lnSI:::J::JCll
1S:v1
~661-91-NI:::JI
�V. Rebuilding Efforts
As part of the 1996 Church Arson Prevention Act, the Department ofHousing and Urban
Development (lfl.JD) is responsible for administering a $10 million Federal Loan Guarantee Fund
to assist with the rebuilding ofhouses of worship and other non-profit organizations that have
been damaged or destroyed by arson.
HUD has forged a strong coalition with the National Council of Churches, the Congress
ofNational Black Churches and other organizations to assess the overall arson damage and to
target resources to these houses ofworship as quickly as possible. As a result of this cooperation,
ten churches have been rebuilt and thirty more are under construction.
The National Rebuilding Initiative will be awarding "rebuilding resource packages" to 79
churches in 18 states in the form of grants from the National Council of Churches, federally
guaranteed loans, and volunteer labor and in-kind materials. Of these 79 churches, 13 are eligible
for a HUD Joan, 20 have received or are eligible for a National Council of Churches grant, and 46
are eligible for a blended resource package of a grant and loan.
VL Preliminary Conclusions
After a series offires around the time of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in 1996,
federal authorities began to focus on the sharp increase in attacks on churches, particularly
Afiican American churches in the South. An evaluation of the pattern of church fires in the South
prompted the conclusion that closer coordination between federal and local law enforcement was
necessary.
The significance of the problem also prompted the Federal government to increase
substantially the resources devoted to addressing it. This increased effort devoted to investigating
and solving these crimes has borne fruit, in terms of arrests and convictions, coordination between
federal and local law enforcement, and the investigation of racial motivations involved in these
crimes.
The number and proportion of fires at African American churches have raised the
possibility of racial hostility as a motive. Indeed, nine defendants have been convicted of federal
civil rights charges in connections with six fires in Nevada, Tennessee and South Carolina. To
date, the investigations have revealed a range of motives, from blatant racism and religious hatred
to financial profit, to personal revenge or vandalism.
There is still much work to be done, however, before charges are filed in other cases.
NCATF can then speak to the motivation behind other fires at churches and other houses of
worship in the last two years. While it was the number of fires at Afiican American churches that
brought these crimes to national attention, the NCATF will continue to investigate and prosecute
attacks on all houses ofworship, regardless of their denomination or racial composition.
9
1S:v1
6661-91-N~I
�Burning a church, whether racially motivated or not, implicates federal anti-arson and civil
rights laws and warrants swift and certain investigation and prosecution. The work of the
NCATF continues to be vital to our efforts to prevent these heinous crimes, and to prosecute
those responsible, whether they are motivated by racial hostility, religious bigotry, financial profit,
revenge, or simply a desire to bum down a symbol of authority in the community. The
commitment of resources and attention to this work by federal, state and local authorities has
been essential to the success of the Task Force, and the Task Force remains dedicated to solving
these crimes and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Acknowledgement
The co-chairs of the TaskForce would like to thank all of the investigators, prosecutors
and others who have worked tirelessly and so well in responding to the Nation's crisis and the
President's call.
Respectfully submitted,
James E. Johnson
Assistant Secretary
Department of the Treasury
Deval L. Patrick
Assistant Attorney General
Department of Justice
10
~S:v1
6661-91-N~f
�THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
January 16, 1997
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DAY, 1997
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Every day, in neighborhoods and communities across our
Nation, Americans come together to worship and to reaffirm
their most deeply held spiritual values. Our right to worship
freely-- each in our own way-- is essential to our well-being.
Religious Freedom Day offers us an invaluable opportunity to
reflect on this precious human right and to give thanks for
. its protection in our Nation.
Freedom from religious persecution was of such profound
importance to our founders that they placed it first among the
freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. History has proved
the wisdom of that decision. America's commitment to religious
tolerance has empowered us to achieve an atmosphere of
understanding, trust, and respect in a society of diverse
cultures and religious traditions. And today, much of the world
still looks to the United States as the champion of religious
liberty.
Yet, even in America, we must be ever vigilant in
protecting the freedoms so important to our ancestors and so
admired by people throughout the world. The church arsons and
the desecration of synagogues and mosques in recent years
demonstrated for us all that our country is not entirely free
from violence and religious hatred. My Administration took
quick and decisive action, including working with the Congress
to help churches rebuild and to prevent future incidents. And I
am pleased that the American people are coming together as a
national community to speak out against such crimes and to renew
the climate of trust and tolerance so that all our people can
�,._
,.1-.-
,..
'
worship without fear.
We must also support the aspirations of ethnic and
religious minorities in other nations as they strive for their
own right to worship freely. My Administration has established
the Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad to provide
counsel on how best to prevent persecution and promote
reconciliation among people of different faiths. I invite
all nations to join us in supporting individuals in houses
of worship around the world as they exercise one of the most
sacred of human rights.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in
me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby
proclaim January 16, 1997, as Religious Freedom Day. I call
upon the people of the United States to observe this day with
appropriate ceremonies and activities, and I urge them to
reaffirm their commitment to the principle of religious freedom.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
sixteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
nineteen hundred and ninety-seven, and of the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-first.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
# # #
�Dan Pink @ OVP
01/16/97 10:16:24 AM
Record Type:
To:
Record
James T. Edmonds/WHO/EOP
cc:
Subject: Re: They meant it for evil...
illrJ
Sorry, Terry. I mistakenly e-mailed to someone named E. Edmonds. Here's the e-mail from
yesteday:
Dan Pink
01/15/97 04:34PM
To:
EDMONDS_E@ A1@ CD@ LNGTWY
cc:
Subject: church material
Remarks of
Vice President AI Gore
New Macedonia Baptist Church
Fruitvale, TN
June 25, 1996
Tipper and I have just finished meeting with a group of religious leaders from this fine
community.
We are so proud to be with you this morning. We are so proud to stand in the shadow
of the church you have rebuilt with such love and care, such faith and dedication.
This morning, we gather to accomplish what alone we cannot achieve. We combine
our individual voices into a chorus of righteousness that rises up and sings out the truth: In
America, our citizens -- all our citizens -- have the right to worship wherever they choose,
whenever they choose. That is a fundamental freedom in America ... and it will not be
denied.
I kilow these past eighteen months have not been easy for the families of this
community. You've had to rebuild the physical structure of this church. You've had to heal
the hurt in your souls. And you've had to search for reasons why that deadly act of cowardice
crashed into your lives eighteen months ago.
�-------------
Let me say that it is especially troubling to me as a Tennessean ... as a Southerner ..
. as a Christian ... to see hate roar with such fury in my home. But I also know something
about the people of Tennessee. I know that the vast, vast majority of people in Tennessee-white and black, Jew and Gentile, rich and poor-- are good people, honest people ... people
who care for their family.and honor their God. And I know that this multicolored majority
will prevail over the cowardly minority that expresses its hate with heat and flame -- that it is
God's will that brotherhood rise from the ashes of this terror
I recall the words that Joseph uttered in Genesis, when he met up with the brothers who
sent hirh into slavery: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good."
And I come here this morning bringing a President's prayers and a President's promise
~- a promise that we will do everything we possibly can to prosecute those who are resp·onsible
for these burnings, and to punish those who are guilty. I pledge to you this morning that we
will be Steadfast in preventing these acts of violence wherever they may occur, and in helping
communities rebuild in places where they have already occurred. That ~s my solemn vow to
you.
For this violence rips apart the threads of principle and stitches of conscience tha:t hold
our national fabric together. After all, this great nation offers its citizens a vast array of
liberties. People are free to disagree in America. People are free to renounce faith in
America. People are free to yell and scream in America.
Btit in America you cannot commit violence on houses of conscience. You cannot
desecrate the Lord's hallowed home. And you cannot make people of faith targets of hate.
That is not our way. And to the cowards who have been committing these grievous acts, I say
this: You shall not prevail.
These fires have awakened the nation's conscience. And now each of us -- in whatever
way we can -- must act. There is no other choice.
Dr. King said it plain some 30 years ago. "We will have to repent in this generation
not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of
the good people."
We cannot be silent. We cannot let the fires of hate speak more powerfully than the
softer flickers of love. We cannot let the cries of the cowards drown out the songs of the
soulful. My friends, we cannot be silent.
We i11ust look this violence dead in the eye. And we must shout-- shout with all the
breath our lungs can muster and all the courage our hearts can stir: Never again. Never
again.
Every house of worship must be sacred -- for it is in these houses that the great events
of our life unfold. They are the places our babies come to be named, and to be baptized.
They are the places where our children learn to read the Holy Bible. They are the places that
�young lovers come to be joined for life under the eyes of God. And they are the places where
God and family and friends speak of our days here on Earth before they plant our bodies in the
ground and send our souls, we hope, to Heaven.
And churches like Macedonia -- New Macedonia -- are sacred to Tennesseeans and
Americans of every faith, for they hold a special place in the history of our state and of our
nation. Much of the civil rights movement was cradled here in Tennessee, and churches like
these offered sanctuary to those who dared speak truth to power.· Churches like these and the
thousands like them across the South often sit at the end of country roads. But in a larget
sense, they sit at the crossroads of American history, signposts on the long, difficult, and still
unrealized, pat(1 to freedom.
Any place so rich with history -- any place where people gather to worship and carry
out life's precious rituals -- must stand forever. Through your good work, you have
guaranteed that this church will stand forever. As President Clinton has said, they can burn
the building, but they can't burn out the faith.
·
In the book of Ezekiel, the Lord sets Ezekiel in the middle of a valley piled high with
the dry bones of the deceased, bones deader than dead. And the Lord asks Ezekiel, "Son of
man, can these bones live?"
And Ezekiel rightly responds that only the Lord himself knows that answer. And so
the Lord commands Ezekiel to direct the bones to hear the Almighty's word. And Ezekiel
does. He Watches, mesmerized by God'.s great power, and relates:
there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.
/looked, and tendons and.flesh appeared on them and skin covered them.
My friends, before we can redeem the Lord's promise for this country, we too must
come together -- bone to bone --joined by the sinews of compassion and human decency.
But as Ezekiel watches this amazing sight, he realizes that these newly formed bodies
have no breath. Ezekiel then relates God's words and how he responded:
"Ptophesy to the breath; prophesy, son ofman, and say to it, 'This is what the
Sovereign LORD says: Come .from thefour winds, 0 breath, and breathe into these slain, that
they may live. "'
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to l(f'e and
stood up on theirf'eet -- a vast army.
Into the dried bones of this tragedy, the Lord has breathed new life. He has summoned
a vast an11y, an army of conscience ... peopled by soldiers of righteousness ... armed with
only truth and faith and love.
�Thank you for serving the Lord in this way. Thank you for your grand display of
courage. Thank you for setting an example for the world.
Our hearts and blessings are with you every step, and we pledge our spiritual
sustenance for the relnainder of your journey.
May God bless you and this church you have rebuilt.
###
�THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Humboldt, Tennessee)
For Immediate Release
August 19, 1996
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
TO THE SALEM MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH COMMUNITY
Salem Missionary Baptist Church
Fruitland, Tennessee
2:10P.M. CDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you very much. Thank you very,
very much. Reverend Donaldson, before the sun went underneath that cloud for a minute, I was
beginning to wonder how a place so close to heaven could be so hot. (Laughter.)
But I am very glad to be here. Hillary and I are delighted to be here with Reverend and
Mrs. Donaldson, and Reverend and Mrs. Vaughan, and our good friend, John Tanner, Governor
McWherter and the other folks from Tennessee public life. I also wanted to say Reverend
Donaldson gave you a big plug, Mr. Barnett. He said if it hadn't been for you and the leaders
of the church, you all wouldn't be here today. And I thank you, too, for what you've done.
Thank you. (Applause.)
I want to begin my remarks by presenting to Reverend Donaldson and Reverend Vaughan
a plaque with a statement I made about this whole issue not very long ago that says, "We must
come together as one America to rebuild our churches, restore hope, and show the forces of
hatred they cannot win." And I wanted you both to have these plaques when you reopen your
church so that people all over this part of the country could see that what you have done is a
symbol of the best in our faith and the best in our country.
So if you would come up, Reverend Donaldson and Reverend Vaughan, I'd like to give
you these plaques. (Applause.)
You know, I think I' 11 start my brief remarks here just by picking up on something that
Reverend Donaldson said about politics and differences and how he was sure that every President
had done something that somebody disagreed with. After four years, I'm sure that every
President has done something that everybody disagreed with. (Laughter.) But part of what we're
�''r
dealing with today, folks, is not only how we live our faith, but how we manage our differences.
And as your President, I want you to think about this -- as your President, an enormous
percentage of my time in dealing with America's relationship to the rest of the world is required
of people who refuse to get along with each other because of their religious, their racial, their
ethnic, or their tribal differences. That is what has convulsed the Holy Land for decades now.
That is what brought the people in Bosnia, after decades and decades of peace, to slaughtering
each other as if they were animals for four years.
In Northern Ireland, the part of Ireland which ought to be the most prosperous and
successful, it's what keeps Protestants and Catholics apart. They're still refighting 600-year-old
battles when the kids want them to join hands and march into the future together. In Rwanda and
Burundi, tribal differences have kept two small countries convulsed with mass slaughter when they
ought to be trying to figure out how to feed their children.
I see this everywhere. And I thank God for the wisdom of our founding fathers, who said,
first, that all people were are created equal, and, second, that the right to the freedom of religion
is the First Amendment, the first and most important right we have. And so I ask you to think
about that. (Applause.)
I said the other day that I hoped that we could get out of the point in our politics where
we trade in insults and go back to fighting over ideas; when we realize that not every election is
a race between a saint and a scoundrel, but instead a contest of find out what the best truth is for
our country to move forward together. (Applause.)
I might say in that context, I noticed one of you neighbors here who is running for the
United States Senate, and Houston and his wife, Debbie, Gordon. I thank them for coming and
I wish you well, sir. Thank you. (Applause.)
I want to encourage everybody to participate in our process just as we encourage everyone
to practice their faith. The genius of America is we have found a way to manage our differences
and to keep coming closer the ideals of our Constitution.
We've had our troubles, too. We've had our troubles in trying to come to grips with the
fact that our Constitution was inconsistent with our practice when it said all people are created
equal. We had a civil war in this country. We had a long civil rights struggle. We had a lot of
challenges. But we're still here after 220 years, stronger than ever, because we found a way to
work together -- not just blacks and whites anymore.
You know, when we had the Olympics and the Vice President and Tipper and Hillary and
I went to Atlanta, there were representatives from 197 different nations there. Our largest county,
Los Angeles County, has folks from 150 of those places in it. (Applause.) Now, that's an
2
�amazing thing and a great tribute to the United States.
We say, if you come here, we'll give you the freedom to speak, we'll give you the
freedom to assemble, we'll give you the freedom to move around, we'll give you the freedom
of religion-- but you can't look down on somebody else because they're of a different religion,
a different race, a different ethnic group, a different tribe. You got to treat people as if they're
equal in the eyes of God and the law. (Applause.)
~ And so, I tell you that I have spent a lot of time on this church burning issue because I
think it is a test of our character as a people and because we must never even begin to go down
that road that has ended in the dark alleys of slaughter in Bosnia, the continuing agony in the
Middle East, and all the other places in the world where people cannot get along because they
insist on living their lives by being able to look down on people because they're different from
them instead of trying to lift everybody up because they're all children of God. And we must not
start down that road. We have to stamp out there feelings whenever we see them manifest.
Let's face it, everyone of us at sometime in our lives -- not a single soul here can say that
you're not guilty at sometime in your life of defining yourself because you could look down on
somebody else -- say, well, I may not be perfect, but at least I'm not that person. (Laughter.)
At least I'm not this, that or the other thing. Everyone one of us is guilty of that. And we know
there's something in human nature that makes people do that. But when it's uncontrolled, you
have all this slaughter and heartache.
So Hillary and Tipper and Aland I, we've worked hard to try to rally the American people
to deal with this problem of church burning because we don't even want to see it start in America.
We're still around here after all these years because we believe people should be free to practice
their faith. And now it's a Baptist and a Methodist church -- we've had a lot of synagogues
defaced; we've had three Islamic centers burned in this country, and that's not right either.
So what I want to say to you is you're not just rebuilding your church here, you're
showing America what's special about America. And by doing that, you're leading us into a
brighter and better future instead of back into the kind of dark path that is divided and torn
asunder so many other nations and that in times past has made America less than it ought to be.
You have given us a great gift by allowing us to come here and share this day with you,
and I want to mention that too. This is a problem that's a people problem. This is an opportunity
that's an opportunity of the heart and conviction. There's things that the government has to do.
We're doing everything we can to help local law enforcem~nt officials to find out who's burned
all these churches. We got guilty pleas from two former Ku Klux Klan members in South
Carolina just last week. We're working to charge some others that we now know have burned
some of these churches. We will spare no effort to catch and prosecute people we can find. We
will-follow up every lead we are given.
But, fundamentally, we know that this issue has to be addressed by people who live in and
3
�.
.
around and who attend these churches and other religious institutions. This is an affair of the
heart, and we celebrate today a triumph of the American spirit.
Let me say, too, that we are standing on the brink of a new century. The kids in this
audience today, some of these kids will be doing jobs 20 years from now that have not been
invented yet. Some of these children will be doing jobs that have not been imagined yet. People
that live in little rural places, within a matter of a few years, thanks in no small measure to the
work that Al Gore has done to bring the benefits of the Internet and computer technology to every
classroom, every hospital and every library in America by the year 2000, they will have access
to things that no child in rural America has ever known before. (Applause.)
And that is a wonderful thing. And our children will be able to live their dreams more
than any generation of Americans before them if, but only if, we don't forget what "brung" us,
as we used to say at horne. (Laughter.)
You know, my people come from a little place in Arkansas that looks a lot like this. And
I was looking at the soybeans and the cotton and the corn-- needs a little water; we'll pray for
that today. (Laughter.) Going down these fields thinking about how wonderful it's going to be
if the benefits of technology allow people to enjoy the virtues and the strength and the joys of
rural life, and still access the modern world. That's what I think is going to happen-- as long as
we don't forget what "brung" us.
And so you've given us a gift today. The Scripture says, "much is required from those
whom much is given." Well, there may not be any millionaires in this crowd today, or many
millionaires that are members of these two small churches, but you have shown us again the
meaning of those words. You have shown us that we have more than we think and that we can
give more than we think. And, therefore, you've given us a chance to live the Scripture today.
That's why Tipper and I wanted to spend our birthdays here. That's why Aland Hillary
wanted to be with us. (Applause.) And let me say, that's why our children carne, too.
And I want to thank Reverend Donaldson's daughter for taking such good care of our
children. We have Karenna and Sarah and Albert Gore, and our daughter Chelsea are here, and
we're all honored to be here with you today. (Applause.)
Every time you drive past one of these two churches from now on you think about that.
When the two congregations got together, when people began to reach across the lines that divide
us, when people began to reassert their belief in the freedom of religion -- every time you do that
you're sticking up for what's made America great for over 200 years, and you're standing up
against what is tearing the heart of the rest of the world.
This can be -- this day, this church, that church down the road -- a symbol of everything
to you every time you see it that makes America the greatest country in human history. Thank
4
�~~
-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--~~------------~--------
you and God bless you all. (Applause.)
2:27P.M. CDT
END
5
--
�PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
RADIO AI)DRESS TO THE NATION
JANUARY 18, 1997
�Good morning. Today I want to talk with you about
the progress we have made in response to last year's
disturbing rash of arsons and other destructive acts
directed at houses of worship throughout this country. In
the
aft~rmath
of these terrible crimes, many of us asked
ourselves why? Were these frres fueled by a sudden ·
upsurge in racial and religious hostility? Were they set for
personal gain or revenge? Or were they random acts of
violence? Whatever the causes of these crimes, they
offended every citizen who c4erishes America's proud
heritage of religious and ethnic diversity, and who
remembers that religious freedom, justice and equality are
the founding principles of our great democracy .
.
-2-
�As one who was raised in the church and who
continues to be guided·by the enduring lessons I learned
there, I joined with all Americans of conscience in
demanding swift action to combat these crimes, to help
churches rebuild and to prevent any more frres.
Seven months ago I established the National Church
Arson Task Force to coordinate the efforts of more than
200 FBI and A TF agents deployed to work with local and
state law enforcement agencies, churches and citizens to
catch and prosecute those responsible for these crimes.
This week, the Task Force released its frrst interim report.
-3-
�The report .shows that we have been remarkably
successful in solving these crimes. Since January, 1995,
143 suspects have been arrested in connection with 107
· . fires at churches and other houses of worship. This rate of
arrest is double the general arrest rate for arsons --: and
three quarters of these arrests. occurred during the seven
months following the formation of the Task Force. So far,
48 defendants have been convicted, on federal and state
charges, in connection with 43 frres.
This work has been supported by $3 niillion in Justice
Department grants to help local communities intensify
their enforcement and surveillance efforts.
-4-
�In addition, Congress authorized the Department of
Housing to administer a $1 0 million loan guarantee
program to assist with the rebuilding of churches. And the
Federal Emergency Management Agency continues to
work with communities to increase awareness and help
. build local arson prevention coalitions. This federal effort
must continue until all those responsible are brought to
justice and no more fires burn.
But even more impressive than our government
effort, has been the tremendous outpouring of assistance
that has flowed from every comer of this country in
response to these crimes.
-5-
.··.
�People have crossed lines of faith and race and region
to link artns in a united effort to rebuild and protect our
houses of worship. And by doing so, they have shown us
that America is still a country that cares about its
neighbors -- a country that comes together in the face
of common threats to defend the common ground of
our values. I am reminded of what Joseph said in
Genesis when he met up with the brothers who sold
him into slavery: "You meant evil against me, but
God meant it for good."
-6-
�I saw this up close this past August when Hillary and
I, along with the Vice President and Tipper Gore picked
up paint brushes and hammers to help rebuild Salem
Baptist Church in Fruitland, Tennessee. One of the
earliest supporters of the rebuilding of this tiny black
church was the congregation of a white church three miles
down the road that had also suffered a suspicious frre.
On a national level, we saw groups like The National
Council of Churches, the Anti-Defamation League, the
Southern Christian Leadership Council, the National
Association of Evangelicals, and the NAACP come
together as one to tackle this problem. And we received
strong bipartisan support from Congress for our work.
-7-
�The insurance industry, at the urging of the Vice
President, also became a partner in the rebuilding effort.
These groups, and others of goodwill all over America,
stepped forward to live out the lesson of the man whose
birthday celebration this year coincides with my second
inauguration this Monday. Thirty-four years ago in his
famous speech on the Mall in Washington, Dr. Martin
Luther King recognized the need for biracial cooperation.
In talking of his fellow Americans who stood with him in
the civil rights struggle, he said, "Their destiny is tied up
with our destiny and they have come to realize that their
freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom ... We cannot
walk alone."
-8-
�My fellow citizens, we must not walk alone into the
21st century. This next week, as we focus on the
inauguration and the future of our great country, my
greatest hope is that we, as Americans, will continue to
fmd strength in our diversity ... that the world will always
look to us as a champion of racial and religious
liberty ... and that we will have the wisdom to heal our
divisions and walk together into a bright new day.
Thanks for listening.
-9-
�PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
RADIO ADDRESS TO THE NATION
JANUARY 18, 1997
�~--~
---~----------------------.
Good morning. Today I want to talk with you about
the progress we have made in response to last year's
disturbing rash of arsons and other destructive acts
directed at houses of worship throughout this country. In
the aftermath of these terrible crimes, many of us asked
ourselves why? Were these fires fueled by a sudden
upsurge in racial and religious hostility? Were they set for
personal gain or revenge? Or were they random acts of
violence? Whatever the causes of these crimes, they
offended every citizen who
cherish~s
America's proud
heritage of religious and ethnic diversity, and who
remembers that religious freedom, justice and equality are
the founding principles of our great democracy.
-2-
�•
I
As one who was raised in the church and who
continues to be guided by the enduring lessons I learned
there, I joined with all Americans of conscience in
demanding swift action to combat these crimes, to help
churches rebuild and to prevent any more frres.
Seven months ago I established the National Church
Arson Task Force to coordinate the efforts of more than
200 FBI and A TF agents deployed to work with local and
state law enforcement agencies, churches and citizens to
catch and prosecute those responsible for these crimes.
This week, the Task Force released its frrst interim rep-ort.
-3-
�The report shows that we have been remarkably
successful in solving these crimes. Since January, 1995,
143 suspects have been arrested in connection with 107
fires at churches and other houses of worship. This rate of
arrest is double the general arrest rate for arsons -- and
three quarters of these arrests occurred during the seven
months following the formation of the Task Force. So far,
48 defendants have been convicted, on federal and state
charges, in connection with 43 fires.
This work has been supported by $3 million in Justice.
Departlnent grants to help local communities intensify
their enforcement and surveillance efforts.
-4-
�In addition, Congress authorized the Department of
Housing to administer a $10 million loan guarantee
I
program to assist with the rebuilding of churches. And the
Federal Emergency Management Agency continues to
work with communities to increase awareness and help
build local arson prevention coalitions. This federal effort
must continue until all those responsible are brought to
justice and no more fires burn.
But even more impressive than our government
effort, has been the tremendous outpouring of assistance
that has flowed from every corner of this country in
response to these crimes.
-5-
�People have crossed lines of faith and race and region
to link arms in a united effort to rebuild and protect our
houses of worship. And by doing so, they have shown us
that America is still a country that cares about its
neighbors --:- a country that comes together in the face
of common threats to defend the common ground of
our values. I ani reminded of what Joseph said in
Genesis when he met up with the brothers who sold
him into slavery: "You meant evil against me, but
. God m·eant it for good."
-6-
�I saw this up close this past August when Hillary and
I, along with the Vice President and Tipper Gore picked
up paint brushes and hammers to help rebuild Salem
Baptist Church in Fruitland, Tennessee. One of the
earliest supporters of the rebuilding of this tiny black
church was the congregation of a white church three miles
down the road that had also suffered a suspicious fire.
On a national level, we saw groups like The National
Council of Churches, the Anti-Defamation League, the
Southern Christian Leadership Council, the National
Association of Evangelicals, and the NAACP come
together as one to tackle this problem. And we received
strong bipartisan support from Congress for our work.
-7-
�The insurance industry, at the urging of the Vice
President, also became a partner in the rebuilding effort.
These groups, and others of goodwill all over America,
.
stepped forward to live out the lesson of the man whose
birthday celebration this year coincides with my second
inauguration this Monday. Thirty-four years ago in his
famous speech on the Mall in Washington, Dr. Martin
Luther King recognized the need for biracial cooperation.
In talking of his fellow Americans who stood with him in
the civil rights struggle, he said, "Their destiny is tied up
with our destiny and they have come to realize that their
freedom i$ inextricably bound to our freedom ... We cannot
walk alone."
:
-8-
·~
�.--------------
-----
-
-----------------,-------------,---------.
I
/
I
My fellow citizens,
we must
not walk alone into the
.
I
I
I
•
I
21st century. this next week, ~,s we focus on the
II
.
inauguration and the future of o4r great country; my
I
greatest hope is that we, as AmJricans, will continue to
.
i
1
fmd strength in ourdiversity ... th it the world will always
look to us as a champion of raci~l and religious
I
liberty ... and that we will have th~ wisdom to heal our
·,
I
divisions and walk together into
abright new day.
i
Thanks for listening.
I
\
I
I
I
I
I
I
-9-
�-r'Ee
--
---------------------------------------~----
),
Civil RightS Division
TELEFACSIMILE COVER SHEET
10~
DATE:
~TO:
PHONE:
·..·"..,a'
:. ,..··
....
...........
..
FAX:
. FROM:
OFFICE OF THE ASSIST ANT ATTORNEY GENERAL
CIVJL RIGHTS DMSION
FAX ~ER:~2-514-.9.i93
PHONE: 202- ?I 4-- Jl ~I
NUMBER OF PAGES
TRAN~MITIED
(INCLUDING THIS SHEE11
2,- ·
(max. 30 pages)
THE JNFORMATION CONTAINED IN liiiS TRANSMISSION IS PROPERTY OF THE UNITED STATES AND IS
ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL. IT IS ~ED ONLY FOR 1liE USE OF IBE
INDIVIDU~ OR ENT.l'IY NAMED ABOVE. IF THE READER OF THIS MESSAGE IS NOT TliE INTENDED
RECIPIENT, YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED TBAT ANY DISSEMINATION, DISTRIBUTION, OR COPYING OF
Tms COMMUNICATION IS STRICn.Y PROHIBITED. IF YOU HAVE RECEIV'ED THIS COMMt1.NICAnON
IN ERROR, PLEASE NOTIFY US IMMEDIATELY BY CALLING ~02-514-2151.
600/100 Ill
gs:11
L6/tl/lo
��-
j
;,_.,.._, ...
_)
.
} .
· Please join us for a reception
to thank Assistant Attorney General
Deval Patrick for his leadership and
service to the Civil Rights Division
· Tuesday, January 14,1997
Great Hall
.
3:00PM
~
.
t~
.
. ~~v~
~~J
Refreshments will be served
rtl\.»
600/600~
06t8t..Q
9S: H
L6/tt/10
��' ··ol.hiJ/97
------
MON 15: 49 FAX
- - - - -:-·- -~-·
141002
--- -~----I"P\\ ! .-·:
·. . .
~
. -
~ u\1 L~\ ~~---U
The Pra~ident
The White House
Washington~
o.c.,
January 14, 1997
20500
pear Mr. Pr~sident:
we are very pleased to submit to you the attached Interim
Report of the National Churcb Arson Task Force (NCATF). The ~asK
Force has bean in operation for slightly more than seven montha
apd has made significant.progress in investigatiP9 and
prosecuting the reoent attacks ori houses of worship.
Your leadership has been crucial to our efforts to pursue
the guilty, prevent additional fires and help the ¥ictima
rebuild. In June 1996, you dec~ared that the investigations and
prevention of church a~sone wou~d ba a national priority. By
ca~ling upon the oepartmQnt of Treasury, 3ustice, Housing and
Urban Development and the Federal Emergency ~anagement Agepcy,
you harnessed the resources and energies of your admiPistration
in this effort. You also challenged Gov.e.rnors froin the southern
states to join in our effort to combat these crimes and
encouraged religious and private organizations to help rebuild
the churches . . Their support has been vital to our success thus
far.
The National church Arson ±ask Force has been responsible
for overse~ing the law enforcement effort and ensuring a
coordinated response by ·federal, state and local law enforcement
authorities. we nave achieved striking results:
•
•
'l'hQ.NCA'!'F has opened investigations'of ·over 328 arsons,
bombings or attempted bombings tnat have occurred at houses
of ~orship bet~een January~, 1995, and January 7, 1997.
A~
a result of the exceptional partnership among federal,
state and local law enforcement, many of the incidents
investigated have been solved, mainly by a combination of
federal and state arrests and prosecutions. Since January
1995, arrests of 143 suspects have been made in connection
with 107 fires at churches and other houses of wo~5hip.
This rate of arrest is significantly highe~ than th~ general
arrest rate tor arson~·
• ThraG quarters of all defendants arrested in the last two
years (104) were arrested during tne seven months following
the formation of the Task Force.
�--
::ol/i,~/97
MON 15: 50 FAX
-~ -··-· ~-·- . - · --:--- -~-·-
141003
--·---
Since·January ~, ~995, federal and state prosecutions have
~esulted 'in convictions of 48 defendants, in connection ~ith
fires at 43 houses of worship. The remaining oag~g are
still pending trial.
we appreciate your leadership on this issue and the support
that you have extended to the Task Force. we would also like to
commend Assistant Secretary James E. Johnson and Assistant
Attorney General oeval L. Patrick, co-chairs of the Task Force,
as well as the agents of the ATF ,.and FBI, t:or the superlative
work they have done in this effort. The attached report provid~s
greater details on the progress of the Task Force efforts. we
would be pleased to ~rief you in more detail if you so desire.
•
Respectfully,
Robert E. Rubin
secretary of the TreasurY
••·'.
Janet Reno
Attorney General
�.
:: .
:,
·01/113197
141004
MON15:50 FAX
----~----
/
INTERIM REPOR't FOR THE PRESIDENT
overview
.
Over the past year, a disturping series of arsons and
violent attacks on houses of worship have traumatized both the
victill1 con~egations and communities, challenged law enforcement
agencies,·and stirred the national conscience. In response to an
outpouring of national concern, President clinton declared th9
investigation of these fires a top priority of federal law
enforcement, and announced a three-prong strategy designed to
identify and prosecute the perpetrators, rebuild the burned
churches and prevent lt10re fires.
In June 1996, the Pre3ident fo~alized the work of
investigations already underway by establishing the National
church Arson 'task Force· (NCATF, or "Task Force") to oversee .the
investigation and prosecution of incident~ of church a~so~- cochaired by Deval L. patrick, Assistant ~ttorney General, Civil
Rignts Division, and .Taltles JL Jo:hnson, Assistant Secretary of the
~reasury (Enforcement), the NCATF has forged a coordinated
response to these crimes by bringing together the nureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (A~F), the FBI, Justice Department
prosecutors, the United states Attorneys, victim/witness
coordinators, the Community Relations Service and the u.s.
Uarghals service, in partnership with state and local officers
and prosecutors.· As a result or this partnership, local task
forces have been. formed in all of the affected states, and
federal autho;rities have supported every prosecution.
I·
Well over 200 ATF and FBI investigators have been deploy,~d
and are working with federal prosecutors and state and local
authorities. This is one of the largest series of arson
investigations in history and the largest current civil rights
investigative effort.
.
1 Most of these investig~tions are still continuing.
Accordingly, this Interim Report contains only public
information.
1
�· 01/1,3/97
141005
MON U: ISO FAX
- - - - - - -·-·-··--------. - - - - - - - - . - /
The response to these fires has ~roduced striking results,
particu~arly viewed in light of the d1fficulty of arson
investigations':
• The NCATF has opcnad investigations of 328 arsons, bombings
or attempted bombings that have occurred at houses of
~orship bet~een January 1, 1995, and January 1t 1997Many of the incidents investi~ated have been solved, mainly
by a combination of federal and state arrests and
prosecutions. since January 1995,· 143 suspects have been
arrested in connection with 101 fires at churcbes and other
houses of worship. This rate of arrest (33%) is double the
genera~ arrElct rat~ for arsons (16%).
•
~hree
quarters of all defendants arre~ted in the last two
years (104) were arrested during the ,seven months after the
formation of the.Task Force.;~~
•
•
since January 1, 1995, 48 defendants have been convicted in
federal and state prosecutions in connection with fires at
43 houses of worship. The remaining cases are still pending
trial. Prosecutions in connection with 31 of the 43
incidents have occurred since the formation o! the Task
Force.
The federal ~overrunent is using the full range of resources
t.o respond to violent acts directed·at houses of worsnip. we are
working hand in hand with local communities to try to pre~ent
these crimes, and we are wor~~ng with the churches, volunteer
organizations and financial institutions to coordinate the
rehuilding effort.
• ~he Department of Justice awarded $3 mil~ion in grants to
counties in ~3 states to intensify their enforcement and
surveil~anoe efforts around vulnerable houses of worship.
•
•
The Department of.Housing and Urban Development (HOD) is
administering a $~0 mi~lion ~ederal Loan Guarantee Fund to
assist with the rebu~lding of houses of worship and other
non-profit organizations that have been damaged or uestroyed
bY arson. This fund was establishe~ by Congress as part of
the 1996 Church .Arson Protection Act.
The Fedora~ Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) established a
Clearinghouse for arson prevention resources that haa
received over 10,000 telephone inquiries from all so states
and the District of co~umbia, and has distributed over
300 000 packets of arson prevention ~aterials, including the
1
NCATF
Church Threat Asses$ment Guide.
2
�·01/~3/97
~006
MON 15:51 FAX
--- - - - - - · · ......:.--- -· ·-· ------- ---
II.
strengtheninc;J the Fed@r'al Effort
A.
Unifying the Federal Ef:[ort
In an investigative effort o! this size and scope,
coordination among federal agencies and between state and federal
~aw enforcement is essential. TO that end, the Attorney General
directed u.s. Attorneys to eitheresta'blish a local task force
focusing on church arsons or to join an existing local task
torce. These local task forces include :;tate and loca1·1aw
enforcement and fire protection o'fficials ,' as. well as
representatives of the ATF, FBI, the comm~ity Relations service
and victim/witness coordinators. ~he local task forces in North
and south carolina are e~amples·of effective coordination between
local and federal authorities~ Where local task torces are still
being de~eloped, the NCATF co-chairs will continue to work with
the u.s. Attorneys and the agencies participating in the Task
Force to ensure maximum cooperation and effectiveness.
In addition to the local task forces, the NCATF has an
operations team in Washington staffed by special agents of the
ATF and the FBI and prosecutors on detail from the united states
Attorney's Offices around the nation and from the Criminal
section of the civil Rights Division. The director of this
operations team is a senior experienced prosecutor. This team
works with the local task force$ to investigate incidents as well
as prosecute cases and analyze potential connections between
incidents. Due to the high priority given to arsons at houses of
worship, many federal cases are prosecuted jointly by an NCATF
prosecutor and an Assistant united states Attorney.
The expe~tise of the FBI in conducting civil rights
investigations and the expertise of ATF in conducting a~son
investigations, particularly cause and origin determinations, has
proven highly benet1cia~ to the success of the NCATF.
Tha NCATF has taken the following steps in carrying out its
responsibilities:
~ssued Investigati~e Protocol.
The NCATF has
established a protocol for its investigations and
prosecutions. This protocol sets forth procedures for
immediately exchanging information-among task force
agencies, developing an investigative plan for each
incident, and ensuring that investigators pursue all
lines of inquiry, including whether the crime was ·
motivated by race or religion and whether any given
incident is connected to any othQr.
De~eloped a Unified Database.
The NCATF has created a
database to compile statistical information about
ongoing investigations. The ATF and ~BI databases and
3
�' Ol/1,3197
MON 15:51 FAX
__ __..;- - · - - ~=- _.
__.-··- - - - - - -- - ..-· -
141007
computer syst~ms are also used in Task Force operations
to track and analyze evidence abOut attac~s on ho~ses
of worship and to_gener~te investigative l~ads.
Trained :rnvestiqators and Prosecutors. In late sununer
and early fall, the NCATF conducted cross training .
among its constituent agencies. ATF experts trained
FBI agents ana Department of 3ustice prosecutors on
arson investigations. civil ~ights Division
prosQcutors and FBI experts trained ATF agents on civil
rights investigations and prosecutions.
~-
..
:·-
Estab11shed Tip Line. The NCATF established a tollfree tipline for citizens to report information on
church arsons. That toll free number is ~-aas-ATF
FIRE. As of December ~9, 1996, NCATF received over
1200 callS through that service. The ATF and FBI also
are offering rewards for information in a number of
arson cases.
Distributed Threat Asses~ent Guida. The NCATF updated
and aistributed a church Threat Assessment Guide
containing valuable information on the steps that may
be taken to prevent fires at houses o~ worship and the
steps to folloW after an inciden~ has occurred.
Working with FEMA, the, 'I'as.k For..ce has distributed over
250,000 of these booklets.
B.
outreach
Without the confidence and cooperation of the victim
oon<:rregations, ~any of these investigations, difficult at the
outset, would be destined to failure. Tne NCaTF took staps early
on to ensure a solid, worKing relationship 'between law
enforcement and the affected communities. Less than a week after
being ~orma~ized, the NCATF met with FBI and ~TF Special Agents
in Charge and U. s. Attorneys from the southeast region to
emphasize the critical importance ot pursuing the investigations
with vigilance, dete~ination and dispatch, as well as with
sensitivity to the needs of the victims.
The president, vice President Gore, secretary of the
Treasury Robert .. Rubin ana Attorney General. Janet Reno have worked
to bring church arsons to national attention, speaking out
torcefully of the commitment of the federal government to solving
those church arsons and meeting with ministers from the churches
burned. secretary Rubin and Attorney General Rono instructed
Assistant Secretary John5on and A~sistant Attorney General
PatricK to remain in close contact with the affected communities.
In addition to meeting regularly ~ith representatives fr-om the
National council of Churches, the NAACP, the southern Christian
Leadership Conference and the congressional Black caucus,
4
/
�·01/1.3/97
.
MON 15:S2 FAX
.
.
.
------------
.
------~------
--
Assistant secretary 3ohnson and Assistant Attorney General
Patrick have both travelled to the south to meet ~ith church and
community leaders and to view personally tha devastation these
arsons have wrought.
'
The investiqators have play~d a crucial role in outreach
As a student in Enid, Oklahoma, Dewey Webb helped move
pews into the sanctuary of the F~rst Missionary Baptist Church.
When he returned as ATF Rosident Agent· in Charge of the Oklahoma
City Field office, it was to solve a crim~, by sifting through
tha ashes of the burned-out sanctuary. But he was also moved to
assure the congregations that the task force team would proceed
with compassion. similarly, in Boliqee, Alabama, where the
burning of three churches led to·-a model of reconciliation,
Robert Langford, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Birmingham
office, met with church leaders, worshiped with the victim
congregations and participated in hate crimes seminars. Most
importantly, he demonstrated through his actions that his team
cared about the victims and was doing its best to bring those
rQsponsible to justice.
efforts.
The community Relations Service (CRS) also has been an
important partner in Task Force outreach efforts. CRS
conciliators have.worked in many communities affected by church
burnings to identify and resolve racial conf~icts and reduce
racial tensions, foster healthy relationships between law
enforcement and Dinority communities and facilitate
communications amonq all parties. The NCATF also developed and
distributed to every ATF and FBI supervisor and u. s. Attorney a
''Best Practices" guide for conducting· co-mmunity outreach
activities.
c.
Working with Congress to strengthening statutory
Authority and ~ncrease Resources
The aupport of congress has been essential in responding to
thase crimes. When the Task Force was tormed, the federal
government had authority under several statutes to investigate
and prosecute suspicious fires at houses of worship. They
include the Anti-Arson Act of 1982, which makes it a federal
crime to use fire to destroy property involved in interstate
commerce (18 u.s.c. 844(i)), and criminal civil rights statutes
that make it a federal crime to desecrate religious property or a
house o~ worship or to oonspir~ to deprive persons of their civil
rights (iS u.s.c. 241 and 247)~
On July 3, 1996, the President signed the Church Arson
Prevention Act of ~996, which had been sponsored by Senator
Edward Kennedy (D-MA), senator Lauch Faircloth (R-NC),
Conqrassman HenrY Hyde (R-IL) and Congressman John Conyers, Jr.
(D-MI) • This statute, passed unanimously by both Houses of
Congress, amends 18 u.s.c. 241t to strengthen the criminal law
5
-
;
@008
�01 /13/97
MON 15:52 FAX
--~--------
-
against church burninq and desecr~tion. The law removes a
cumbersome interstate commerce requirement, eliminates a $10,000
damaqe requirement and increases the sentenc~ to up to 20 years
for arson where an injury occurs. The leqislation also
authorizes a HUD loan guarantee program that can be used for
church reb~ildinq, and authorizes additional personnel at the
T~Qasury Department and the Justice Department, includinq the
community Relations service, to respond to the fires. Assistant
Attorney General Patriok and Assistant Secretary Johnson,
representing the NCATF, testified before House and Senate
oommittses in support of this legislation and were instrumental
in identifying the need for amending the QXistinq statutory
framework.
In Auqust 1996, in a supplemental appropriation for fiscal
year 1996, congress provided $l.2.o~~ mil1ion dollars to support
ATF's role in the Task Force. In september 1996, Congress
appropriated an additional $12.011 million dollars in ATF's
fiscal year ~997 direct funding to support arson investigations,
particularly those directed toward religious institutions.
Additional funds for TasK Force activities at the Justice
Department and the FBI wero also appropriated or reprogrammed.
rri.
The
Task Force is Pioducirtg Results
Scope of the Probl.em: Tho NCATF has opened investigations
of 328 arsons, bombings or attempted bombings that have occurred
at houses of worship between January 1, 1995, and Janual:"y 7,
1997. This number does not included vandalisms or other
desecrations at house of wor~hip, which continue to be
investigated and proseoutod by the FBI and the Civil Rights
oiviosion. Nor does it include fires that the investigators have
dGtermined are accidental. Of these 328 arson investigations, at
least l.38 have been fires at African American churches. Three
quarters of the tires at Afrioan American churches have occurred
in the southern united states. Arsons at houses of worship
continuo to be reported in significant numbers. Indeed, the
NCATF opened 28 arson investigations of incidents which occurred
in october 1996, 24 arson investigations of incidents occurring
in November 1996, and 11 investigations of arsons occurring in
December 1996.
Arrests: As a result of the exceptional partnership among
federal, state and local law enforcement, many of the incidents
investigated havE\ been solved, ltlainly by a combination or federal
and state arrests and prosecut~ons.
Since January 1995, arr~sts
of 143 suspects have been ma<ie''c in connection with 107 fires at
churches and other houses of worship. This rate of arrest (33%}
is signi!icantly higher than the general arrest rate for arsons,
which is approximately 16% according to Department of Justice
statistics. ·
6
@009'
/
�....
. 0111.3/97
MON 15: 53 FAX
. - - - - - - - · - ·- ... -.
--------
141010
since the formation of the Task Force, the number of arrests
has increased,signi:ficantly. One hundred. and follr pereonc,
representing ~ee quarters of all defendants arr@sted since
January ~995, were arrested followinq the ~ormation of the Task
Force._
Of the 143 persons arrested,_ 24 are African Alnarican, 3 are
Hispanic and 1~6 are white. A1so, of the 143 persons arrested,
62 are juveniles. Of the 54 suspects arrested for arsons at
African American churches, 36 are white, 17 are Arrican American
and 1 is Hispanic. Of the 85 suspects arrested for arsons at non
African American houses of ~orship, 76 are white, 1 are African
American, and 2 are aispanic. Four additional White suspects
have been arrested for arsons at both African American churches
and non African American churches.
/
convictions: since January 1, 1995, 48 defendants have been
convicted in federal and state prosecutions in connection with
fires at 43 houses of worship. All but two or the remaining
cases are still pending tria~. 2 A list of the inoidants in
which a conviction has been obtainod is attached as Appendix 1. 3
These successes ino1uda the first convictions under the 1996
Church Arson Protection Act, 18 U.s.c. 247 1 as amended • .
Prosecutions in connection with 31 or the 43 incidents have
occurred during the seven months ainoe the formation of the Task
Force.
Federal charges are pending in a number of cases, and grand
jury investigations are ongoing in several others. Conspiracy
charges have been fi1ed, and convictions obtained, in a number of
cases invol.ving small numbers of fires. Investigators continue
to pursue the question whether broader conspiracies were
responsible for some of the fires.
2 There have been two acqUittals. On November 21, 1996 1 a
defendant was acquitted by reason of insanity for the June 10,
1996, arson at our Most sorrow~u1 Catho1io Church in Soap Lake,
Washington, and the JUne 14, 1996 1 arson at the Community
Evangelical Church in Soap Lake, washington. He was indefinite1y
committed to the Eastern State Hospital.'' In october i996 1 a 13
year old defendant was acquitted ot state arson oharq~s stemming
from a fire that caused $500 in damage to the Slaughterneck
United Methodi5t Church in Milford, Delawareo The fire appeared
to'have be@n caused when a pile of leaves was set on !ire behind
the church. All of the other prosecutions have resulted in
convictions or are still pendinq.
3 The list in Appendix 1 also includes convictions in
connection with three incidents of vandalism and a conviction in
connection with one arson that occurred in 1994, but where the
prosecution occurred in 1995.
7
�·Oll~3t97 MON 1~3-:~33~F~AX~--------------------------------------------------------------------·~
----·- -··- --- - --- -:-- --- --.- ---·
141011' /
In sti~l other cases, state prosecutions have been initiated
in consultatio.n with federal prosecutors or investigators. The
NCATF actively\monitors these prosecutions to ensure that any
federal interest is vindicated and to ensure that accurate
information is compil.ed regardinq law enforcement's response to
attacks on hous~s of worship.
Continuinq Workload. Arson cases are among the most
difficult criminal. caaes to solve. Forensic evidence is often
destroyed with tha fire. Moreover, because some of churches
burned are located in isolated, rural areas, there are no eye
witnesses to the incident. For these reasons, it can often take
years to solve some of these oaaas. In addition, the NCATF has
been initiating investigations a~ new fires have occurred. Whi~e
the nutnbe~ of reported fires appears to have decreased from a
peak ·in June 1996, there have been a substantial number of fires
reported in each month since June. (see Appendix 2 for a chart
of fires reported by month.) As of January 7, 1997, there were
221. pending inv~stigations where arrests _:have not been made. The
NCATF remains committed to expending the ·necessary time,
resources and effort to so1ving these crimes and prosecuting
those who are responsible.
rv.
Enbaneinq Arson Prevention Efforts.
The NCATF, as part of the federal response to church arson,
participates in a coordinated effort to enhance local and state
programs to prevent fires at houses of worship and to promote
arson awareness qenerally. The National Arson Prevention
Initiative, spearheaaed by the Federa~ Emergency Management
Agency {FEMA), has focused on coordinating federal resources to
support co~unity-based grass roots efforts to prevent arson.
Arson Prevention Clearinghouse. In June 1996, FEMA
established a Clearinghouse for arson prevention resources.
To date, the Clearinghouse has received over 10,000
telGphona inquiries from all 50 states and the District of
Columbia, and responded to requests for o~er 300,000 packets
of arson prevention materials. Included in those materials
is the Church Throat Assessment Guide prepared by the NCATF,
whioh informs congregations about steps they can take to
make their churches safer, and steps to take after an
incident has occurred.
·
Grants to 1ooal jurisdictions. The Department of Justice
awarded $3 million in grahts to counties in 1J states to
intensify their enforcement and surveillance efforts around
vulnerable houses of worship. The eligible states were:
Alal:>ama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana 1 Maryland 1
Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, south Carolina,
Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. lh' addition, FEMA released
$774,000 in training grants to anhanoe state and local arson
8
�•
·.
011 ~3/97
MON 15:53 FAX
--------· --.---··----·-·.
141012
investigations and prevention capabilities. Tnese granta
been . use4 to deliver National Fire Academy courses by
the state~ fire training organizations and also to support
the training of state and regional ar~on task forces.
hav~
COlDJIIUnity outreach efforts. ;1~ Forty four VISTA and AmeriCorps
volunteers have been assigned to 18 rural communities in
which church arsons have occurred and· to 73 other
communities in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North
carolina, south Carolina and Tennessee. In these
communities, volunteers conducted co~unity and church
threat assessments, organized arson watch groups and town
hall meetings on arson prevention, and engaged in community
relations projects.
Training programs. The NCATF is working closely with FEMA,
the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Sheriffs'
Association and southern governors to develop a series or
interdisciplinary training conferences and workshops on
arson prevention that will be conducted in thirteen targeted
southern states in 1997. An additional four regional
conrerences '·outside the so~thern region are al,so planned.
community-based coalitions. FEMA nas developed a pilot
community action program tor arson prevention in three
communi-ties: Nashville, Tennessee, Charlotte, North
carolina, and Macont Georgia. A coalition of fire
prevention personnel, law enforcement, community, sohool and
business leaders will be recruited to develop local arson
prevention programs. These oan include workshops on
juvenile firesetters, an arson risk assessment survey, an
arson.hot-line, improved building and fire code enforceltl.ent
and neighborhood watch programs.
V.
Rebuilding Efforts
As part of the ·1996 Church. Arson P~evention Act, the
Department of Housing and Urban Development {HUD) is responsible
for-administering a $10 million Federal Loan Guarantee Fund to
assist with the rebuilding of houses of worship and other nonprofit organizations that have been damaged or destroyed by
arson.
HUD has forged a atron9 coalition with the National council
of ChUrches, the congress of National Black Churches and other
organizations to assess the overall arson damage and to target
resources to these houses or worship as quickly as possible. The
National Re.bui~din9 Initiative will be awarding "rebuilding
resource packages" to 79 churches in 18 states in the :tonn of
grants from the National council of Churches, federally
guaranteed loans, and volunteer labor and in-kind materials. Of
these 79 churches, ~3 are eligiblo for a HUD loan, 20 have
9
�- - 01 /13/97 MON 15:54 FAX
- - - --------~---·-
!41013
received or are eli~ible for a National Council of churcnes
grant, and 46• .are eligible for a b1ended re,.o=oe package to
include a qrari~ and loan.
F:re~iminaey Conc1usions
After a series of fires around the time of the Martin Luther
King Jr. holiday in 1996, fedoral authorities began to focus on
the snarp increase in attacks on churches, particularlY African
~erican churches in the South. An evaluation of the pattern of
church fires in the south prompted the conclusion that closer
coordination between ~ederal and. lopal law enforcement was
necessary. The federal go~ernment identified a significant crime
prob1em and increased the number of investigators and the ~ount
o£ resources as it as~essed the extent of the prob1em. This
increased effort devoted to investigating and solving these
crimes has borne ~:ru.it, in terms of arrests and convictions,
coordination between federal and local law enforce~ent, and the
investigation of racial ~otivations involved in these crimes.
VI.
Fires at Atrican ~erioan cnurches raise the possibility of
racial hostility a~ a motive. ~he proxi~ity in time and
geographic region suggests that''~some of tne tires may be
connected. To date, the investigations have rovealed a range of
motives, from blatant racism and reli~ious hatred to financial
profit, to persona~ revon~e or vandaliSID• Nine defendants have
been convictod of federal civil rights charges in connections
with six fires in Nevada, Tennessee and South carolina. There is
stil~ much work to be done, nowe~er, before oharqes are filed in
other cases. NCATF can then speak to the motivation behind other
fires at cburohas and other houses of worship in the 1ast two
years. ~n addition, attaCkS on ~hite cnurches, syn~qoquas and
mosques are and will continue to be the subject of investigation
and prosecution.
Burning a church, whether racially motivated or not,
i~plicates federal anti-arson and civil rights laws and warrants
swift and certain investi.gation and prosecution. The work of the
NCA'rF continuesto be vital in-our efforts to prevent these
heinous cri~e~, and to prosecute those responsible, whether they
are ~otivated bY racial hostility, re1igious bigotry, financial
profit,· revenge, or simply a desire to burn do'lio7n a symbol of
authority in the co~unity. Tne commitment of resources and
attention to this ""ork by federal, state and local authorities
ha5 been ~ssential to the success of the TaSK Force, and the Task
Force remains dedicated to solving these crimes and bringing the
perpetrators to justice.
/
�'
.
141014'
~..:...-.:._o1!.;t3!g_MON .15: 54 FAX
Acknow~edgelllent
Tbe co-chairs·~£ thQ Tack Force would like to thank all of
the invastigators, prosecutors and others who have worked
tirelesslY and so well in responding to the Nation's cri5is and
the President's call.
Raspaotfully submitted,
James E. Johnson
Assistant secretary
Department
of
the Treasury
oeval L. patrick
Assistant Attorney General
Department of Justice
).1
/
�•.
"
JAN-16-1997
TREASURY DEPT .
19:37
. 202 622 7154
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of Enforcement
1500 Pennsylvania A venue, NW
Washington, DC 20220
.~
To:
/ev?J
~<
Addressee's fax number:
FROM:
Lf{0 - ~1 01
JAMES E. )OHNSON
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Telephone:
Fax:
202/622-0200.
202/622-7154
DATE:
Number of pages to follow:
f_,
~---
P.01/03
�--'
JAN-16-1997
19:37
TREASURY DEPT.
DRAFT.
202 622 7154
P.02/03
\
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON
RADIO ADDRESS TO THE NATION
JANUARY 18, 1997
Good morning. Today I want to talk with you about the progress we have made in
response to last year· s disturbing rash of arsons and other destructive acts ·directed at houses of
worship throughout this country. In the aftermath ofthese terrible crimes, many of us asked
ourselves why? Were these fires fueled by a sudden upsurge in racial hostility? Were they acts of
religious bigotry? Were they set for personal gain or revenge? Or were they random acts of
violence? Whatever the Ca.uses of these crimes. they offended every citiz:en who cherishes
America's proud heritage of religious and ethnic diversity,
who remembers that religious'
fteedo~ justice and equality were the founding principles of our great democracy. As one who
was raised in the church and who continues to be guided by the enduring lessons I 'learned there, .
those fires torched my heart in an especially painful wa~ I was determined to put the full weight
of my office behind the effort to combat these crimes &M help churches· rebuild C.. ~i n,. f'"<A.I
and
.
.
1
.:......-r .
~·e<-"f ~e
I
Gt·.
,
Seven months ago I established the National Church Arson Task Force to coord~nate the
efforts of more than 200 FBI and ATF agents deployed to work with local and state Jaw
enforcement agencies. churches and citizens to catch and prosecute those responsible for these
.· ""'
·crimes. This week, the Task Force released its fir~t interim report. The report shows that we
· ~v;.·1-1 ~
have been remarkably successful in solving these cri.mes. Since January, 1995. 143 suspects have
(.j
been arrested in connection with 107 fires at churches and other houses of worship. This rate. of
~gnifi~antly hi~sr tfiaR the general arrest rate for arsons·· and three quartersofthese
arrests occurred during the seven months following the formation of the Task Force_ So far 48
·,
defendants have been convictedjin connection with ·43 fires.
Jl fh' ../.1!-et..u-.R a-1 J ~e c~)
_
This work has been supported by $3 million in Justice Department grants to help local
communities intensify their enforcement and surveillance efforts. In addition, Congress
authorized HUD to administer a SIO million loan guarantee program to assist with the rebuilding
of churches. And the Federal Emergency Management Agency established a clearinghouse for
arson prevention resources that has received over 10,000 telephone inquiries and sent out over
300,000 packets of arson prevention materials. This federal effort .Bi continue until all those~
responsible are brought to justice and no more fires burn_
~~r
?"'
(f;;:&.-.
But even more impressive than our government effort, has been the tremendous
outpouring of concern 'and help that has flowed from every corner of this country in response to
these crimes_ People have crossed lines of faith and race and regjon to link arms in a united effort
to rebuild and protect our houses of worship. And by doing su they have shown us that
America is still a country that cares about its neighbors ·- a ~ountry that comes togeth~r in
the face of common threats to our common values. I am reminded of what Joseph said in
Genesis when he met up wit.h the brothers who sold him into slavery: "You meant evil
against me, but God meant it for good."
I saw this up close this past AUgust when Hillary and I, along with the Vice President
and Tipper Gore picked up paint brushes and hammers to help in the rebuilding effort at Salem
�TRERSURY DEPT.
202 622 7154
P.03/03
Baptist Church in Fruitland, Tennessee. One of the staunchest supporters ofthe rebuilding of this
tiny bl~ck church was the congregation of a white church three miles down the road that had also
suffered a suspicious fire.
On a national level, we saw groups like The National Council .of Churches, the NAACP,
the Sou:them Christian Leadership· Coundl and the Congressional Black Caucus come together to
lend their moral, legislative and financial resources to solve this problem. These groups, along
with individuals of goodwill all over America are living out the lesson of the man whose birthday
celebration this year coincides with my second inauguration this Monday. Thirty-four years ago
in his famous speech on the MaJI. in Washington, Dr. Martin Luther King recognized the need for
biracial cooperation. In talking of his white brothers 'and sisters who stood with him in the civil .
rights struggle, he said, "Their destiny is tied up with our destiny and they have come to realize
that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom ... We cannot walk alone,"
· ·
My fellow citizens, we must not walk alone into the 21st century. Let us continue to find
strength in our diversity..Let us be proud that the world still looks to us as a champio~ of racial
and religious liberty. And let us join hands and walk together into a bright new day. ·
Thanks for listening.
····.....
'
TOTAL P.03
�O:i/16/97
THU 20:39 FAX
14Joo1
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Office of Emergency Information and Medim Affairs
FAX (~02) 6464086
FACSIMILE
J0 ~-,5·
ro:--------1~------~---------------
DATE:
7
oaG~ZArRON:
Wfi r2dm
LJ)~-~~~--------------------------------
___________
VOlCETELEPIIONE: ~------------
Confirmation Requested:
YES: _ __
N(): _..,:__ _
at. (~OZ) 646'-4600/
0
Morris Boone
0
Morrie Goodman
0
Carl Suchocki
0
Joe Bray
0
Steve Horwitz
0
Marc Wolfson
0
Bill Mc:Lean
0
Barbara Yagerman
0
Mark Stevens
0
BWZella.tS
0
We are sendillg
·0
pages, indudiRg this page.
Comments:
'
.•.
�01,.;(16/97
Tihi
20: 39
FAX
141002
Executive Summary
The National Arson Prevention Initiative (NAPl), since its creation
by President Clinton on june 19, 1996, has focused its efforts on the
coordination of Federal resources to support the devdopment of
community-based arson awareness and prevention activities. The
following are some of the notable accomplishment...-; of the fust six
months of the Initiative:
FEMA created the National Arson Prevention Clearinghouse,
accessible toll-free at l-888-6o3-3100. The Clearinghouse has
received more than 10,000 inquiries from every State and
territory, and has distributed more than 300,000 arson prevention information packets.
The Bureau of justice Assist..mce CBJA) of tht: Department of
justice has made granto; of $4,600 to 586 countit:s in 13 targeted
Southern states to enhance church surveillance efforts and to prevent arson.
The Corporation for National Service's AmeriCorps and VISTA volunteers conducted arson risk assessment surveys and provided arson prevention information
in 18 communities that had experienced church arson and in 73
other potentially vulnerable communities in the six southeastern
States.
FEMA prepared radio public service announcements for national distribution concerning arson pr~::vcntion and awareness.
Additional radio messages were prepared for use dul'ing Fire
Prevention Week and Crime Prevention month.
FEMA's Emergency Education Netv.rork was utilized for satellite
delivery of an arson prevention workshop offered by the
International Association of Arson Investigators.
FEMA has selected three locations fat' a pilot community-based
arson awareness and prevention coalition-building program.
The pilot programs will be started in early 1997 i.n Charlotte,
North Carolina, Nashville, Tennessee, and Macon, Georgia.
FEMA disuibuted $774,000 in training grants to all fifty States
and the District of Columbia to enhance State and local arson investigation and
prevention capabilities.
The Department of Education has awarded seven grants for a total of $1.8 million
for hate crime prevention activities.
FEMA continues to worl< closely with its other Federal partners, as well as a wide
r.1.nge of public and privatt: constituents, in an effort to promote arson awareness and
prevention.
1
�I-~-----------
--
-
___.....
THE WHITE HOUSE
)
efv~
WASHINGTON
K,Qhv!)
(ew)
Jer6M~
5ILi- g0C[b
M~ ~r1sr:Wr on~ 1ua.J&vts
(t.
+as~ few~
~
·
1
~v ~~~
�.
--
01/16/97
~-
12:37
'6'48490
~001
-··
u.s. Department or Justice
Civil Rights Division
WouhitlgtDII, D.C. 10$30
TELEFACSIMILE COVER SHEET
DATE:
TO:
PHONE:
FAX:
FROM:
OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL
CIVIL RIGHTS DMSION
FAX NUMBER: 202-514.. 0293
PHONE: 202· 51 '1', &;U·
CO.MMENTS: _
_..;(qJLQ=-,.___·
----'-~-----:~~ffi...=...;;;..--~~·...;;......--~--.:-\-~,~~~~...;..._
NUMBER OF PAGES TRANSM1TTED (INCLUDING THIS SllEET) ---------:-(max. 30 pages)
TBE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN TillS TRANSMlSSION IS l"R.OPER'IY OF THE UNITED STATES AND IS
ATIORNEY·CLIENT P.RIVU.EGJID AND CONFJD'EN'llAL. IT IS lNT.ENDED ONLY .FOR T8E USE OF THE
I!NDIVIDUAL OR EN'l'l'N NAMED ABOVE. IF 1'IlE READER OF THIS MJo::SSAGE IS NOT THE JNTENllED
RECIPIENTp YOU ARE HEREB'lr' NOTIFIED UIAT AN'1( lD!SSEMINA"rrON, DISTMBU!'ION, OR COPYING OF
1'B1S CO'MMUNICATION IS STRICI'LY PROHIBITED. IF YOU HA.VE RECEIVED TI:US.COMMUN!l:CA.TION'
IN ERROR. PLEASE NOTIFY US IMMEDIATELY BY CAU..ING 202-514-2151.
�01/16/97
12:38
'5'48490
@002
NATIONAL CHURCH ARSON TASK FORCE
P. 0. BDX 65798
Washingr""- D.C. 20$30
INTERIM REPORT FOR THE PRESIDENT
_. ~ I. Overview
, Over the past year, a disturbing series of arsons and violent attacks on houses uf
worship have traumatized the victim congregations and their communities, challenged law
enforcement agencies. Elild stirred the nation's conscience. In response to an outpouring of
national concern, President ClinLon declared the irtvestigation of these tires a top priority of
federal law enforcement, and announced a three-prong strategy to identifY and prosecute the
perpetrators, rebuild the bwued churches and prevent more frres.
In June 1996, the President formalized the coordi.nation of investigations already
Wlderway by establishing the National Church Arson Task Force (NCATF, or "Task force")
to oversee the investigation and prosecution of inc~dents of church arson. Co-chaired by
DevalL. Patrick, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, and James E. Johnson,
Assistant Secretatj' of the Treasury (Enforcement). the NCATF has forged a coordinated
response to these crimes by bringing together the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
(ATF). the FBI. Justice Department prosecutors, the United States Attorneys, victim/witness
coordinators, the' Cumm.unity Rda.tions Service and the U.S. Marshals Service, in partnership
with state and local officers and prosecutors.
As a result of this partnership~ local task forces have been formed in the affected
states, and federal authorities ha.ve supported every prosecution. Their efforts have been aided
significantly by support from the Congress, which provided additional statutory authority and
resources tor these investigations.
-
Well over 200 ATF and FBI investigators have been deployed and are working with
over 75 federal prosecutors and state and local authorities. This is l,ne of the largest series of
arson investigations in history and the largest current civil rights investigative effort. 1
Most of these inve:stigations are still continuing. Accordingly, this Interim Report
contains only public information. The fire and arrest statistics in this Report were complete
as of January 7~ 1997.
1
1
�01/16/97
12:38
14!003
'5'48490
The response to these fires has produced striking results, particularly in light of the
inherent difficulty of arson investigations:
I
I
The NCATF has opened investigations of 328 arsons, bombings or attempted
bombings that have occurred at houses of vtorship between January 1. 1995, and
o
January 7, 1997.
Many of the incidents investigated have been solved, mainly by a combination of
11
I
federal and state arrests and prosecutions. Since Januazy 1995, 143 suspects have been
arrested in connection with I 07 fires at chutches and other ho·oses of wor~hip. This
rate of arrest (33%) is double the general atrcst rate for arsons (16%).
·
I
........
I
Three quarters (104) of all defendants arrested in the last two years were arrested
during the seven months after the formatiod. of the Task Force.
•
I
Since January 1, 1995, 48 defendants have been
convicted in federal and state
I
prosecutions in connection with flres at 43 houses of worship. All but two of the
remaining cases are still pending trial. Pro~ecutiuns in connection vnth 31 of the 43
incidents have occurred since the formation! of the Task Force.
&
The federal government is using the full r.lge of resources to re<pond to violent acts
directed at ho1.1.c:es of worship. We are working hahd in hand with local corrununities to try to
prevent these crimes, and we are working with the: churches. volunteer organizations and
fmancial institutions to coordinate the rebuilding etlort.
!I
I
•
The Department of Justice awarded $3 million in grants to counties in 13 states to
intensify their enforcement and surveillancJ efl"orts around vulnerable houses of
I
warsh1p.
1
I
•
The Depart:r:ncnt of Housing and Urban De~elopment (HUD) is administering a $10
million Federal Loan Guarantee Fund to assist with the rebuilding of houses of
worship and other non-profit organizations ithat hav~ been damaged or destroyed by
arson. This fund was established by Congress as part of the 1996 Church Arson
Prevention Act.
.
I
1
•
.
i
HUD i~ working closely with the National :council of Churches and the Congress of
National Blac.k Churches in the rebuilding effurL As a result of this cooperation, ten
churches have been rebuilt and 30 churche~ are undergoing construction.
1
I
•
The Federal emergency Managemer\t Agency (FEMA) established a Clearinghouse for
arson prevention resources that has receive~ over l 0,000 lelephone inquiries from all
50 states and the Dislricl of Columbia, and has distributed over 300,000 packets of
arson prevention materials, including the NCATF Church Threat Assessment Guide.
I
I
2 i
. "I
�01/16/97
12:39
'5'48490
~004
IT. Strengthening the Federal Effort
A. Unifying the Federal Effort
.
I
In an investigative effort of this size and scope, coordination among federal agencies
and between state and federal law enforcement is ~ssential. To that end, the Attorney General
directed U.S. Attorneys either to establish a local ttsk force focusing on church arsons or to
join an existing local task force. These local task forces include state and local law ·
enforcement and ftre protection officials, as well
representatives of the ATF, FBI, the
Community Relations Service and victim/witness cbordinators.
J
I
...-'
The local task force!; in North and South C~olina are examples of effective
coordination between local and federal authorities. ) Where local task forces are ~11 being
developed~ the NCATF co-chairs will continue to 'o/Ork with the U.S. Attorneys and the
agencies participating in the Task Force to ensure faximum coopem.tion and effectiveness.
In addition tt) the local task forces, the NC~TF has an operations team in Washington
staffed by special agents of the ATF and the FBI ahd prosecutors on detail· from the United
the Criminal Section of the Civil Right<;
States Attorney's Offices around the nation artd frdm
I
Division. The director of this operations team is ai senior experienced prosecutor. This team
works mth the local task forces to investigate incident~ a~ well as prosecute cases and analyze
p(,)tentia.l connections among incidents. Due to the \high priority of these matters, many
.
federal cases are prosecuted jointly by an NCATF p.tosecutor and an Assistant United States
Attomey.
j
The expertise of the .FBI in conducting civil rights investigations and the ~xpertise of
ATF in conducting arson investigations, particularly in making cause and origin
determinations, has pwven highly beneficial to the isuccess of the NCATF.
I
The NCATF has taken the following steps
ih carrying out its responsibilities:
I
Investigative ProtocoL The NCATf has established a protocol for its
investigations and prosecutions. This protocol sets forth procedures for
immediately exchanging information! among task force agencies, developing an
investigative plnn for each incident, tmd ensuring that investigaLOrs pursue all
lines of inquiry p including wh~ther the crime wn.s motivated by race or reHginn,
and whether any given incident is c~nnected to any other.
I
Unified Database. The NCATF ~ created a database of statistical
information about ongoing investigations. The ATF and FBI databases and
computer .systems are also used in Tfisk Force operations to track at'l.d analyze
evidence about attacks on houses of worship and to generate investigative leads.
1
3
�--~----
01/16/97
12:39
"
D
141005
'6'48490
Training~
I
I
In late summer and
earl~ fall,
the NCATF conducted training
among its constituent agencies. ATF expert.~ ttained FBI agents and
Department of Justice prosecutots hi arson investigations. Civil Rights· Division
prosecutors and FBI experts trained lATF agents in civil rights investigations
and prosecutions.
\
Tip Line. The NCATF established ~toll-free tip line for citizens to report
information on church arsons. That I~toll free• number is 1-888-ATF-FIRE• As
of December 19, 1996, NCATF hnd received over 1200 calls tlu'ough thiit
1
service. The A TF and FBI also are offering rewa.tdq for. information in a
nwnhet l.,f arson cases.
I
"
Thrent Assessment Guide. The NCATF updated and distributed a Church
'Threat Assessment Guide containing \valuable information on the steps that may
be taken to prevent fires at houses o£ worship and the steps to follow after an
incident has occurred. Working with FEMA, the Task Force has distributed
over 300,000 of these booklets.
l
1
i
D. Outrea~h
\
4e
Without the confidence and cooperation of
victim congregations, many of these
investigations, which were difficult at the outset, wcluld have been destined to fail. The
NCATF took steps early on to ensure a solid, work.ihg relationship between law enforcement
and the affected communities.
\
I
Less than a week after being formalized, the NCATF met with FBI and ATF Special
Agents in Charge and U.S. Attorneys from the Southeast region to emphasize the critical
importance of pursuing the inve!oit1gations with vigiltfuce~ detennination and dispatch, 415 well
as with sensitivity to the needs of the victims.
1
1
I
The President, Vice President Gore, SecretarX of the Treasury Robert Rubin and
Attorney General Janet Reno have worked to bring church arsons to national attention.
speaking out forcefully of the commitment of the FdJ~ral government to solve the~e church
arsons and meeting with ministers from the churches I burned. Secretary Rubin and Attorney
General R~no instructed Assistant Secretary JolUison [and Assistant Attorney Ge11eral Patrick to
remain in elose tontact with lh~ affected communitie:s. In addition to meeting regularly with
representatives from the National Council of Church~s, the NAACP, the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference and the Congrt:ssional Black Cauc:us, Assistant Secretary JohnsMl and
Assistant Attorney General Patrick have both travelle~ on numerous occasions throughout the
South to meet with church and community lenders ~d to view personally the devastation
these arsons have wrought.
i
~
The investigators have played a crucial role outreach efforts. As n student in Enid,
Oklahoma. Dewey Webb had helped move pews into\the sanctuary of the First J\.1issionary
4
�01/16/97
12:40
'5"48490
141006
testified before House and Senate commillees in support of this legislation,. identifying the
need for amending the existing statutory ft3lllewor~.
I
In Augl.lst 1996, 1n a supplemental appropri*tion for fiscal year 1996p Congress
provided $12.011 million dollars to support AT.F,s ~role in the Task Force. In September
1996, Congress apprupriated an additional $12.0 1l !million dollars in ATF' s fiscal year 1997
direct t\mding to support arson investigations, parti~ularly those directed toward religious
institutions. Additional funds for Task Force activities by the Justice Department and the FBI
were also api'lrnpriatedl or reprogrammtit.
·
ill. The Task Force
ns Pl!'odudng Results
I
Scope of the Problem: . The NCATF has opened investigations of 328 arsons~
bombings ur attempted bombings that have occurrcli at houses of worship between January 1.
1995, and January 7, 1997. This number does not ;include vandalism or other desecration.at
houses of worship, which continue to be investigat¥ and prosecuted by the FBI and the Civil
Right.~ Division. Nor does it include fires that the investigators have determined arc
i
accidental.
or these 328 arson investigations. at least 138 have been fires at African American
churches. Three quarters of the fires at African Aiherican churches ha:ve occut'red in the
southern United States. Arsons at all houses of wo~ship continue to be reported in significant
numbers .. Indeed, the NCATF opened 28 arson in~esligations of incidents which occurred in
October 1996, 24 arson investigations of inciden.ts occurring in November 1996~ and 11
investigatiuns of arsons occwring in December 199:6.
p~ership
federal~
Arrests: As a result of the exceptional
among
state and local law
enforce111ent, many of the incidents investigated ha.;_,e been solved, mainly by a com.bination of
federal and state arrest~ and prosecutions. Since Ja;nua.t'Y 1995) arrests of 143 suspects have
been made in connection with 107 fires at churche~ and other houses pf worship. This rate of
arrest (33%) is significantly higher than lht= genet~ arrest rate for arsons, which is
approximately 16%, according to Department of JuFtice statistics.
Since the formatio.n of the Task Force, the ~wnber of arrests has increased
significantly. One hundred and four persons, repre~ting three quw-ters of all defendants
arrested since January 1995. were arrested following the formation of the Task Force.
I
Of the 143 persons arrested, 24 are African! American, 3 are Hispanic and 116 are
white. Sixty-two are juvenilt:s. Of the 54 suspects arrested for arsons at African American
churches, 36 are white, l 7 are African American a~d 1 is Hispa.tuc. Of the 85 suspects
arrested for arsons at non-African American house~ of worship, 76 are white, 7 are African
Amer.ican, and 2 are Hispanic. Four additional w~t~ suspects have been arrested for arsons at
both African American churches and non-African ~merican churches.
6
�01/16/97
12:40
[ll 007
"a'48490
Convi~tinu!il: Since January 1, 1995, 48 detendants have been convicted in federal
and state prosecutions in connection with fires at 43 houses of worship. All but two of the
remaining cases are still pt=nding trial. 2 A list of tHe incidents in which a conviction has been
obtained is attached a~ Appendi.""< 1. 3 These succes~s include the first convictions under the
1996 Church Arson Prevention Act, 18 U.S.C. 247,1 as amend~d. Prosecutinns in connection
with 31 of the 43 incidents have occurred during th~ seven months since the fonn~tion of the
Ta~k: Force.
i
Federal charges are pending in a nwnber of f3.Ses, and grand jury investigations are
ongoing in many others. Conspiracy charges have lj>een filed, and convictions obtained, in a
number of cases involving small numbers of fires. Investigatnr~ continue to pursue the
.-. question whelher broader conspiracies were respons~ble for some of the fires.
I
In still oth~r cases, state prosecutions have been initiated in consultation with federal
prosecutors or. investigators. The NCATF actively rhonitors these prosecutions to ·ensure that
any federal interest is vindicated and to ensure that kcurate information is compiled t·egarding
law enforcement•s respon~ to attacks on houses of .Worship.
.
I
Continuing Workload. Arson cases are ambng the most difficu1t eri.minal cases to
solve. Forensic evidence is often destroyed with the~ fire. Moreover, because some of the
churches burned are located in isolated, rural areas, ~ere are often no eye witnesses to the
incident. For these reasons, it can often take years to solve arson cases.
In addition, the NCATF has been initiating uivestigations as new flres have occurred.
While the number of reported fires each month appekts to have decreased from a peak in June
1996, there have been a substantial number of fires reported in each month since June. (Sec
Appendix 2 fot a chart of fl.res reported by month.)
of January 7~ 1997, ther~ were 221
pending investigations where arrest~ had not been m~de. The NCATF remains committed to
expending the necessary time, resources and effort td solving these crimes and prosecuting
those who· are responsible.
I
·
\As
I
I
2
There have been two acquittals. On Nove4.ber 21, 1996, a defendant was acquitted
:our
by reason of insanity for the June 10, 1996, arson at
Most Sorrowful Savior Catholic
Church in Soap Lake~ Washington, and the June 14, 1996, arson at tht: Community
Evangelical Church in Soap Lake, Washington. He was indefinitely committed to the Eastern
State HospitaL In October 1996, a 13-year old defeddant was acquitted of state arson charges
stenuning ft'()lll a fil'e that cau~d $500 in damage to the Slaughtemeck United Methodist
Church in Milford, pelaware. The fire appeared to ¥ve been caused when a pile of leaves
was set on frre behind the church. All of the other prosecutions
have resulted in convictions
I
or are still pending.
The list in AppendL" 1 also includes convictions in connection with three incidents
of vandalism and a conviction in connection with one: arson that occurred in 1994, but where
the prosecution occurred in 1995.
3
1
,
I
�01/16/97
12:41
141 008
'a'48490
IV. Enhancing Arson Prevention Efforts.
The NCATF. as part of the federal response to church arson, porticipatcs in a
coordinated effort to enhance local and state prograh1s to prevent frres at houses of worship
and to promote arson awareness generally. The Nitional Arson Prevention Initiative,
spearheaded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has focused on
coordinating federal resources to support commwtity:.b~d grass roots effmts to prevent
I
.
I
I
arsoiL
Arson Px-evcntion Clearinghou!le. In June 1996,
FEMA est<'!blished a Clearinghouse fclr arson prevention
resources. To date, the CleDiinghousb has received over 10,000
telephone inquiries from all 50 states land the District of
Cohunbia, and re~ponded to requests
over 300,000 packets of
Dison prevention materials. Included ln.
those materials ·is the
I
Church Threat Assessment Guide prepared by the NCATF.
which informs congregations about st~ps they can take to make
their. churches safer, as well as steps t~ take after an incident has
oceutred.
\
-·
tor
.
•
.
I
Grants to locnl jurisdictions. The Dppattment of
Jus lice has awarded $3 million in grants to counties in 13
States to intensify their enforcement artd SUl"'leillance
efforts around vulnerable houses of wqrship. The 13
states were: Alabama, Florida, Georgi~. Kenrucky,
Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina.
•
I
Oklahoma, South Carohna, Tennessee, iTexa~ and
Virginia. In addition, FEMA released $774,000 in
training gya11ts to e.nhance state and lo~al arson investigations and
preve11tion capabilities. These grants h~ve been used to deliver
National Fire Academy courses by the state fire training
organizations and also to support the tr~g of state and
regi.onal arson task forces.
1
I
.,
I
Community outreach efforts. Forty-four VISTA and
AmeriCorps vohmteers have been assished
to 18 rural
I
communities in which church arsons have occurred and to 73
other communities in Alabam~ Georgi~ :Mississippi. North
Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessed. In these communities,
volunteers conducted community and cHurch threat assessments,
organized arson watch groups and town!hall meetings on arson
prevention, and engaged in community telations projects.
I
8
�I
01/16/97
12:42
141009
'5'48490
II
I
I
I
..
Community healing efforts. CRS ~lays an integral part in .
the Administration's response in locaJ towns and cities, working
with over 100 local communities in reducing racial polarization,
bridging law enforcement and minori~ cnmm.unities. facilitating
t:rainiP.s law enforcement on
a biracial rebuilding effort, and
cultural diversity and race relations. \
.
Training programs. The NCATF is\ working closely
vvith FEMA, the Bmeau of Justice A~istance, the
National Sheriffs 7 Association and southern gnvemors to develop
a series of interdisciplinary training c6nferenccs and workshops
on arson prevention that will be cond~c:ted in thirteen ta.rgeted
~uthern states in 1997. An additional four regional conferences
outside the southern region arc also pl1anned .
. I
FEMl
Cummunity-based coalitions.
has developed
a pilot community action program for larson prevention
in three communities: Nashville, Tetu~essee,
Charlotte, North
I
Carolina, and Macon, Georgia. A coalition of fire prevention
personnel, law enforcement, communi&, school and business
leaders will be recruited to develop loc~l ~son prevention
programs. These can include worksho~s on juvenile tircscttcrs,
an arson risk assessment survey, an m"S on hot-line, improved
building and fire code enforcement and neighborhood watch
programs.
I
0
1
V. Rebuilding Efforts
.
i
\
I
As part of the 1996 Church Arson Prevention f\-ct, the Depa.rtme.nt of Housing and
Urban Development (HOD) is responsible tbr administering a $10 million Federal Lonn
Guarantee Fund to assist with the rebuilding of house~ of worship and other non-profit
organizations lhat have been damaged or destroyed hyi atsoo.
·
I
HUD has forged a strong coalition -with the Nci~onal Council of Churches. the
Congress o.f National Black Churches and other organizations to assess the overall arson
damage and to target resources to these houses of wor~hip as quickly as possible. As a result
of this cooperation, ten churches have been rebuilt anq thirty more arc Wlder construction.
.
I
The National Rebuilding Initiative will be awarping "rebuilding resomce packages" to
79 churches in 18 states in the form of grants from the National Council of Chw·chcs~
federally guaranteed loans, and volunteel' labor and in-:kind materials. Of these 79 churches,
13 are eligible for a H.UD loan. 20 have received or arb eligible for a National Col.lllcil of
Churches grant, and 46 are eligible for a blended resoJrce package of a grant and loan.
I
I
�01/16/97
12:42
I
'5'48490
141010
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
VI. PrellininfU'Y Conclusions
I
After n series of fires around the time of thd Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in 1996.
federal authorities began to focu.~ on the sharp incr~ase in attacks on churches, particularly
African American churches in the South. An evnl'*tion of the pattern of church fires in the
South prompted the conclusion that cloSt:r coordination between feder-41 and local law
enforcement was n.ecessary.
\
i
The significance of the problem also prompt~ the Federal government to increase
substantially the resources devoted to addressing it. \This in~eased effort devoted to
investigating and solving these crimes has borne fruit, in tenus of arrt:sls and convictinns,
. ...- coordination between federal and local law enCorce~ent. and the investigation of racial
motivations involved in these crimes.
.
I
The number and proportion of f~res at Africatt American churches have raised the
possibility of racial hostility as a motive. Indeed, nihe defendants have been convicted of
federal civil rights charges in COimections with six rJes in Nevada, Tetmessee and South
Ca.mlina. To date, the investigations have revealed~ range of motives, from blatant racism
and religious hatred to fmancial profit, to personal re~enge or vandalism.
There is still much work to be donet however~ before charges are filed in other cases.
NCATF can then speak to the motivation behind oth~r fires at churches and other houses of
worship in the last two years. While it wa.~; the numJ?er of fires al African American churche~
that brought these crimes to national attention, the N€ATF will continue to investigate and
prosecu~~ attacks on all houses of worship. regardlcss1\of their denomination or racial
c:omposmon.
.
L
Burning a church. whether racially motivated
not, implicates federdl anti-arson and .
warrants swifi and certain investigation and prosecution. The work of
the NCATF continues to be vital to our efforts to prevent these heinous crimes. and to
prosecute those responsible, whether tht:y are motivatdd by racial hostility, religinu.q bigotry,
fmancial profit, revenge, or simply a desire to hum down a symbol of authority in the
community. The commitment of resources and attenti:on to this work by federal. state and
local authuritit:s has been essential to the sueeess of thIe Ta.~k Force, and the Task Force
remains de.4icated to solving these crimes and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
civil
I
right.~; law~ and
1
lO
�01/16/97
12:43
.141011
"8'48490
I
I
Ac:knowledg~ll'lelllt
I
-
The co~chnirs of the Task Foree would like ic
thank all of the investigators,
I
prosecutors and others who have worked tirelessly and so well in responding to the Nation's
(.."risis and the President's calL
Respectfully submitted,
~···
James E. Johnson
Deval L. Patrick
Assistant Secretary
Departme11t of the Treao;ury
Assistant Attorney General
Departmeht of Justice
.
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
. I
11
�I
THE WHITE ijOUSE
Office of the Press\ Secretary
I
I
For Immediate Release
\
July 10, 1996
I
I
i
REMARKS BY THE :pRESIDENT
ON THE CHURCH ARSON PREVENTION ACT
I
I
The Rose Garlden
I
9:20 A.M. EDT
I
I
I
Thank you very much and good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I want to join first with
the Vice President in thanking Senator Kennedy, S~nator Faircloth, Congressman Hyde and
Congressman Conyers, and all the members of Congress for supporting this legislation in such
a vigorous and such a prompt way.
\
I
toda~
to emphasize publicly our solidarity with
I think all of you know that we are here
this cause and with this piece of legislation. Ordinarily we would be here at a signing ceremony,
and I want to say a special word of appreciation to the members of Congress, especially to the
sponsors, because this bill came down to the White Hohse while the Congress was out of session,
and every member we discussed this issue with saidl, go on and sign the bill, Mr. President,
because we don't want to lose a single day when this ~ill will not be the law of the land. And I
thought it was important for you to come down here so that America could see the breadth and
depth of support in the Congress, among religious lea~ers who are here and community leaders,
for this legislation and for this cause.
\
I
This act makes destructive hate crimes againstI houses of worship a federal crime. It
doubles the maximum sentence for these crimes that\ cause injury to people. It increases the
statute of limitations from five to seven years. It passfd unanimously and that is a great tribute
to the depth of conviction in the Congress about this issue.
I
I
We all know that burning churches is an outrage. Since January of '95 -- listen to this -more than 190 incidents of fire or desecration of houkes of worship have been reported in the
United States. While many have been targeted at bladk churches. in the South, there have also
in
all parts of this country. When these
been attacks on synagogues, mosques, and white church~s
I
.
attacks are motivated by hate, they are an affront to our !basic commitment to religious liberty and
racial tolerance, and in so doing they pose a challenge tiot just to those whose houses of worship
are desecrated or burned but to the entire nation and td our future as a common community.
1
I
II
�I
II
These attacks, as the Vice President said, may be intended to divide Americans, but they
have had just the opposite effect. We all know when ~omeone
burns a house of worship it must
I
mean that the person committing the crime views the people who worship in that house as
somehow fundamentally less human. And that is wrobg. We know it's wrong, and we know it
violates everything that this country was founded uporl. We see a spirit today with Republicans
and Democrats here that rejects that and says Amerid is better than that.
I
The National Church Arson Task Force which we have created is mobilizing the forces
of the Departments of Justice and Treasury, the Federal Emergency Mantlgement Agency, and
other federal agencies, working with communities all bver our country to catch and
to prosecute arsonists, to prevent further burnings, arid to help communities to rebuild. I have
directed FEMA to coordinate a prevention effort and {ve have taken steps to provide $6 million
for the Bureau of Justice Assistance to law enforcerhent and other community efforts in 13
targeted states.
I
I
It's also important to know that arrests are be,ng made. In the last three weeks arrests
have been made in connection with fires and North C~rolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia,
Washington, and Missouri. Tomorrow Vice President Gore is meeting with leaders of the
insurance industry here at the White House to build on their pledge to work in partnership with
all of us to prevent these crimes.
!
I
I
I
I
I
And while, I say again, not all these crimes are racially motivated, a significant number
of them are. We have to continue our struggle againstI racism and religious bigotry. I want to
compliment all the religious organizations and other groups in this country that have agreed to
come together to help to rebuild these churches, showing that we can reach across lines of race
and religion and region to bring all law-abiding Americans together in this rebuilding effort.
I
I
Recently I declared this month of July "Natio~al Month of Unity," calling on religious
leaders of all faiths and citizens from all walks of life to reach out to one another to strengthen
the ideals that light our way as Americans and keep us strong. In recent days here on the lawn
of the White House we have seen another sort of flame\in America-- the Olympic flame, which
symbolizes the best of the human spirit. The other\ flames of these awful church burnings
symbolize the worst instincts of those who would take 'us
back to a time of terrible division and
I
hatred. But it's the Olympic flame, carried by American citizen heroes all over our country,
which is now burning throughout the South, making itsI way to its final destination in Atlanta.
As the world looks to our nation as the host country
of the lOOth Olympic Games, let us
I
resolve anew to extinguish the flames of bigotry and intolerance and keep the flame of religious
freedom and ethnic diversity and respect for all Ame,ricans burning brightly in this Olympic
season.
1
I
I
1
I
I
Thank you all for your contribution to that effott, and God bless you. (Applause.)
I
I
END
.
9:25 A.M. EDT
2
I
I
�91~16(97
12:43
~012
5'48490
PAGE: __~/~--~~------
dut of the as .es, a1hel sense of unity
1
One year. ago, a rasl) of churt;h bumll1gs began in
By~;=~i=~~~~~~s~~-~~-~~.
USA TODAY
·
South. In this report, USA TODAy foo1<s
changes rought by
that ensued.
~e ~~t?nat <?~cry
Wblte House. A black chun;h ~ b~ a1mast daily in the
South. Concera was &rowing that the 11;res v.:ere n~ mOtivated ana. ~bly, the resul~ ot a regao~e conspll'3cy.
Al the end of June, USA TODAY published a ~y •
ria mar. reponed tbe !ndingi; of a ~nth inve!lli~tion of
c:lu.arcb ires llc:rtiSII tbe SoutlL lbe investigation found no evidence or a Widespread amsplraey Md tound 12cial hatred to
be only one or many mor:ives behind the fires. 'Ibe series also
reportec1 mat Churches of every eolor and faitll havt! long beeD
a target of llr.'Dnisls, not only in rbe ~th but 8Cl'I;ISS me naaon.
In the pas Silt months, the bummgs have dnlpped off, aud
laJk or a mc::ia.l eoD:SPitaey haS died down. But otraer ac:avn:y
bas Dlckee! up. Voiunteels pour:ed Into the Souttl to belp rebuild
churches last summer. More than S7 mlllion ba'3 been contrlb-..
ut:M. And the federal investl~.t:ion has broadened beyOIId jUst
blat':k churches in the South tO churcbes or every color.
'"We ftaV$ not slowed dnwn
at all." says Mark ~special
agent in cbarge of tbe ATFs linvestigplion in the carolinas.
..Because It is too impori taot to these communi-
COVER STORy
lies, and it's too important
m America as a commuDilY m let tl1is just fall away trorn view."
.=:.....=.....;;...;:=..:....:::..._;;;:;....;_..;;;;..,.;;.__1
1
And the legacy of the ovtcri gms well beyond fUnd-raising
1
aruJ me impact on law enforcement. It has created a new sense
or unity among organized reli~ous faiths. It bas InCreased
awareness or lhe strained relat;~OC\!I between tbt! races. It has
lt!d to clOBer sen~ tiny and undemanding olllr.iOn, t'SI:Iedauy bY
juvenues. It has even chang~ the '111ly cburdles are insured,
where uew ol!es ate located andItbe materials used In tiWlding.
I
Massive federal. state, I
local iovesrlgadon
1
Bm It'S the Cc:dern! investigadon that bas drawn the most at·
tention. By Del:.. 17, authorities; had investigst~ 318 ~urc!l
lln!DI1S committed s.ince Jan. ~. 1995. lnvesn~ton> inherit
a~t ~ ~~~ case eaeb week.\
1.\D
I
\
I
�01/.16/97
12:44
141013
"a'48490
Wben Stade Nix was amsted three weelrs qo, slle became
the 12Stb person c:harged. A total or 134 people bave now been
arTI!Sted iD 91 cases. Olber cases bave beell solVed Wilhout: at·
rests. For uample, some .llres were set by people fOUDd tO be
mentally disblrbed. Tbe Justice Depanmerll repons a 31% ar-
~----~·--~
r-
~ You1111 IU'SOfti*18: Jweniles accu.Jnt for ·more 1han
4(1.1~ Of II'IOSa c:harged with
churctl arscn, Page 'lOA
P. ln,_allptions Massive
probe ~ulls it\ mote 81'1'8StB,
t&Ner fires, Pllgil tD&
.,. lnaul!'llnce: ChurCh policies CO'der only haJJ of· repair
eostt: steps taken to increase COYerage, .Pave 1 ta
mte.rate
Dfmly CIOUbie_
tbe usual
ror MIOil.
l'l!!it
MCIIIl or Ulase cases are
sOD maldag their way
througb the eouns. ·aut
tbere have beal convic:·
tioos io 31, iodudiDg ltle
Jnlt under tbe federal
Cbun:h Arsm Prevention
Ita- 1be IWir law was approved by
CDngre!il!l
and
President Cliaton last
summer, and It' doubles
the rnuimum penalty for
church ;m;on to 20 :year&
Three persoas pleaded
guilty In Nashville to le£1..
eraJ d¥il righ1S ViolatioDS, and four ex-membens of lhe Ku
KIU%"Kla.n have plesded guilty to ledeTBl mnsplraey charges
tor burning a black c:hurcb in South Carolina.
About 250 fedeml agen$ are $dll Involved In the lnvstigation. No one has totaled the cost ot local. state and feder.sl ef··
tons. but t~eral C>iftd~ e$dmate it is at least $30 million. last
summer, President Ointno added ~24 million to tbe ATFs
budget O"et twO yean apm~~ly tO investigate eburch Ires.
Tbe relationship between local. slate and federal agenis has
been Qnusually cooperative. Especially i.a the South. &JtY
church Are is reported almost immedial£1y to Wasbingb;ID..
IJ.'F spokesman Jotan Umbach says people
an!
now more
aware of the role of the ATF, which Is the nation's leadlng Investigative ~Dey iD cases involving anoD aDd explOIIiva
And lede1111, saate arJd local authorlties DOW have an unprececlented amCIWlt or intormation to ~Ge them. The National
Arson Task Foroe, aJ<.baired by DeYal Pbaick or the Justice
Department and Jim JobDSOQ ot me 'treasury Deparaneut. is
the central repmitm'y for information on burned churches.
For tile ntst time, alltllorities baVe a llle OD every ate.
Overall, COQgl"eeatians are Jllylng higher iDsuraD<::e premi·
ums now,l but not because J.nsurance c.ornpanil!!i are penalizing
dlem. lDS:Iead, con~tioas have rt'Dlized their churcbl!!i
were WJderinsured. Mca.q CllUJ'CileS were insured for
value, whicb almost always Is Jc:ss than repla.eemeut value.
. In a check or sevea black churaes that burned in and
lli1Rind J~ Ndville and XnoxviUe, Tenn.. for emmple,
TJSA TODAY fOWICI UW·rhe churches bad been il'flll.lred tor a
toCal or $U mUUon. 'Illeit replacement ~ was 12-5 m.illion..
so coverage on a 1ribole is rising. "Churches are more mind·
ful ot tl:ll:ir COYeJ'8&1!8 DOW," Silys RolCllllle Taylor of lbe
Church ~l'BIJCf! Pllrillersbip ~- ..llsuance is DOW at
tile rop ofl the priority list."
Owing tbe height of me publicity over dlurcb fil1!5 early
last summer, a few l.nsauuce eompmies dzvppea Cllurcbe&
But publle oftlcials all the way liP to President Clinton isrued
sbarp ~ agaiD5t Uxat, and l.he caacellat1ons stO()pec:i•
lrS£:adj ln.~ranc:e companies bave retaoled padmges lor
churches, reiiRilling congregations that make thelr DWIOlngS
more anon-proof. "Companies have Decome more diligent iD
l:r)'in! to pmvide c.ovemge at an wron:lable prtce." says sreve
Goldstein :or the Insurance ID!ormation Inslitute.
New Macedonia MSonary Baptisl. Churcb In Fruttva.le.
Tenn., ~paying $800a year for $126,000 in QOYerage before
the churcli burned last year. The new church, built wun a securitY ~ received $300,000 worth ot covernge lrorn 11 sym.
pathetic lcl:al insurB~~<E CXJmpany tor .ii.L!It $7~ a year.
I
market
1
Many o' those
arrested were juveniles
~the
Besides
III'Jiii!Dt matmrs of investiga.ting the 1ln:s and rebuilding the cburt:bes, tiU! year's ouray over lhe burning of
black cl:IUTeblil5 launched IDCam.inations of tbe Underlying
~ ot ~ 611$. lbe paaiDWty ot a Widespread racial mnspuacy geoeratmi the deepelli!DDCel1L But USA TODAY's in-
1-
·--
much more to do with race lhaD with the churdllrel,
were ~ven to Southern ldDte advisory mni,tniu.ees ror
developl:nent Thoee paDels are me£1Ulg ~ the
South iWl will make l'l!mmmendatiom ro me rtgnt'!l
co~oo, whic:b exped!l to prndua: a land~ ~
pott earlY nelt ymr that wW iDdude a bluep~ tor
change. 1Tbe n:port is apecred tD ask President Clinton
tD give priority to lmpn:IV!ng potiee/c.Orn.m~ey relations in Ithe Swth. It ¥rill al8o foeus on me Jmi)OCt of
d~tion and rada1 disparities in er.1ucat1on.
"Tbis Is not l!DI1letb.ir:lg lhat a.D)'Oile Is WDlking ll97o!Y
from."~ Mary Fnlnces Berry, chairwoman or tne
cornrniSsion. "We eq:e;:t mmedling pasittv.e TD come
out of rl&is.''
·
R~building ellorts
going at full steam
MeanwhUe, the rebuildinK of lhe chW'Cbes bas .e"o'Ul"a:l into
ail-i.Dstitution. La£t wmmer, thousands volunteered to help
build, and tund-raisin~: p~ were a.nnOuneed whenever a
church burned. Now some reliSiou.s o~tioz, indudq
tbe ChrisiSan Alliance and me National Conlerence of
ou-.t.d!s ot businfll!i5E!S and organimtioliS abo bnve reo
Churches, have permanent programs.
lbe NCC, which has 3J churcb orpnimdons in ils membership, had n&ised more than $5 million by Del:. 20 and. re~::eived
coatributions of ma~eria13: valued at about $3.9 rnilliOn. The
group is seeking anC/ther $z7 million frOm foundations, ~:hurd!.
sponded. ADoUt 15% of the money raised by lhe N~~
)las
earmarked for a Racial Justice and Reeonali·
auon Program tht~t conducts seminm~ and wor~b.ops
been
10 improve race relation& The NCC clra'IIIS contnbu-
trOm vimlally ever,~ religion in the mu.nay.
Fourlle9dlng human rights groups formed a "Bigotry
tions
otrerii:Izs and public docations.
About 75'!l!. of the money is targeted for rebuilding. The NCC
bas 1!. "bUnJ omc:e" tJiat ~each ~bureb's ntleds. A total O(
124 churches are 011 liS list, and the liSI sraws weekly. No or
Dec. 20, me NCC baa alstrtDutea Sot-' million to 79 ~
tions. The NCC also refers churches to banks tD apply for fed·
Watcb..'i The grOUpS are the National Urban U!:aglle, a
bl.acli. ail\.>OC:aey group; the Anti·DetamatioD Lc::agu~ a
JewiSh-baSed watchdog group; the National Col.l.acil or
La Raz8, advc:a::ate lor HispaniQI rights; and Tbe NA·
tiona.l C:ouucil. a coalition of Christians and Jews.
The private sector bas joined in, tQQ. I.JW mocth. tile
Baston Piano Co. e518blb:hed a trust fund 10 help
era.uy guaranteed loans. pan or a $10 million PrDEr3m set up
by the Housing and Urban Developmenl depanment.
New dlurches are Delrl3 DWlt aurerently. Old ones wen= Willally constructed of wood and little thought was (jven tD prevennng lire or any kind. let aJ.one the work of an anJDD.i!t.. New
churches are built. with ftre-resislant materials and may bave
spr!IOOer sYStem:L Some bave electronic alarm sySJ.erm and
sensor llgbas tD detect prowlers. A few citieo have fonn.ecl ecumenical neighborhood watches tD keep an eye on all churches.
Some dnm::hE are being rebuUt in more public places.
Many of the burned churches, especially black churches, were
in remote. fon!Sted areas. that made them e8Si mrgetS. New
locations typiailly are in areas with fire hydrants nearby.
1
cbun::hes victimizai by bate crimes. Its irst benellda.
ry; Tri.Jlity United Methodist Cmrch in SL Pe~urc,.
F111., d&maged in ri~ Oct. 24 an£r the sboormg ct a.
b~ ;X tDotorisr by a whiter ·•jce omcer.
_
Will the mc.et endW'inelet9lcy of this yenr's rurmoil
De abOut church burnings or al:IOut race? In me end. It
probably will De o.bout both.. Earlier this month, tbe
Southern Chrisrian Leadermlip conrerence hcsed a
summit in Atlanta for a long Ust of Orglnimtions tbat
have been rebuilding churches as part of the SCl.Cs
1-\\
"BeautY from AShes" movement.
p
J.
tjf1/
_
�01Jl6/97
12:45
14!014
'5'48490
i
I
dle ~ juYeoiles IUl'l!5ted so far ba~ beeft ebaqed ~m
der th~ ~ DeW federallli'SOIIIaw. IDszr:ad, tbey are
~ •·li8Ddals.n!!lllana mligbt penaltia ca:mvtt:Eed. DOes' dW invire more juvenile lln!DQ? Opiu1cms
vary, ~t As9istant Treasury Secremry J"un Johnson,
· for OD~ vehemently oppases treating a church burning
as a petty crime DY a rruschi~ yOUth..
~ down a church ill DOC m~parstlle 1n any
way to mJJDary, smalJ.Hme ad$ ot JUvenile Ylllld.alism.~ Sa.)'S Joluison. who cochairs tbe National ~n
1'Qsk ~n:e. "'tlamaae J"'IIJ5 Into tile hundreds of thouSiUidS or dollars Md th~ psychic dam8ge on tfle eommwliti ill Ged4ed.ly tnwmadc. •
Routinely t!'8llirlg Juvenile arsonisls as va.adaiS begs
anodlet question: Did some of the wb.ite juveniles who
black cllurches have racial motives? SOme m.
vesriDtor.t pnvazeJy believe that's tbe case altbougb
proving mat would be d.itl!.cult
.
•
u
burned;
!sue ~~ raee brought
mto national conseiou.mess
l~c:y
No
or lhis yesr's churdl burnings has carried
mom ~on than the one SUTr'Dimding race.
Ear1Y1thiS )'ear, the II~ c:apruAd tbe nation's aaen~an primarily because of a widespread bel.let tbat rae·
1m1 m18ftl be lhe major motive. Aithou~ die taas .
eventu~y cUsp~ lbat tenr, some otthe Ires dearly
were rnCWJy driven. A.<;. a result, the Ires bealme dle
symbol of 0. new lllQVelllent to addn!S'S mclal problem.<;..
Beguuw~ witb tbe beatillg or RQdney Klrlg iD Las
Angeles :ODd tile Las Angeles riots tblu tOI.lowed, tills
Clecac:le bas been markedby a IIBI"i111 of ugly racial epi·
sod~ ne mas receot involved Te~aCD execudves
Wli,O ftie tapen.r:ot"ded makiDg racially d.ispQragi.ng
rema.rics ~about blad employees.
. Bl~ til~ c:hurdl bu~ may haW! left dle bigg!S
lliiJ)nnt OD ate Ameru:an CU~~S;iousners. Rer::ognizh~g
ttw. me U.S. Civil·RJghG Commimion embarked on a
fact-fin~ tour ac::rtl55 the Soulh la!t summer to ex.
plore Wlletller racism 11118$ a conbibutlng cause to fbe
Ires. UWnat.ely, tbe CXII'DJJlission fOWJCI lbal nu::e was
only one maDy t.ldnrs in the anons. but its member.~
were stunned by the ''rampant racism" uw turned D)).
llle ~on's J)rtl.iminary findings. which bave
or
I
I
!
I
I
I
�01/16/97
12:45
141015
"5'48490
DATE: /;-;j 8,~
PAGE~
/4-t'J
Massive investigation leads to ·
more· arrests, fewer fires ~..:.._":~.::
•
By Ciary Fl~
USA TODAY
ne
~
I
Resula ot a tw~mantb USA
TODAY i11vesUxatlon, pub-
. .
·
II shed last summer at the
number or people ar..
lleigbt or pubUc: coDCem over
churc:JJ arsons, found lbat raciaJ bacred was only one or severa1 matives behind the ares.
rested ror bUrniJ1& a chUrtb ~
creased nc:arty seveMold tram
1995 U) 1996.
ID 1995, 17 people were
Other motives lneluaecl JUYe-
eb&l:ed with c::bun:h 8J50IL So
tar this year, aJTeSts tDc:alll7.
nile Vlllldal.ism and
fraud
insurunce
lb~ wave of churdl arsons
led tD creaDOft in June ot the
In addition, cbun:b anons
are Deiag Mlved at nearly
twice the rate of llJ5miS overall.
National Arsm 'r.)sk Foree.
Ill 1995, al)outl&% or an anoas
natiooally resulted In 8JTI!Sis..
WhiCh indudes agents frum tbe
SUs;lecm have been at11!8ted in
FBI IUld me aue&u of Alcohol,
T®acco and F'Jre8JlDS.. A nadoDQl ellurca &n!Oil c:Qmputer
database atlD was creaiEd.
31% of chun:h 8r.30I1
CISfS.
While tbe &mllll raze 'bas
gooe up, cbun:h IU5DDS ID 199&
have dec.liDed !rOm a peak of
52 flnsiD June to 26 durtng the
oearty JeVeD weeks trom New.
1 tbmugb last Tue!lday.
· Tbe inaeu! In arte!IZ5 Is at"
tributed largely to the 1.0011
federal, state and loc:al ~
~m.,; who were assigned to lDve!!iti(;ate church ar.som this
summer and I:Jie sao who are
still working the CB.'5I5.
Jai'I'M!S Sfianley. of rhe N•
tional A.wX.iation of :Fire Inr
vesdgarors. savs '!he massive
iuvestlgat1on llaS Wwninaled
several truths.
Tbe llm. he says, is tbat "our
law enforcement Qgencies are
c:apa!lle. Of gelli~ ~Dilether b
ward a common gaal." The
seconl115 tiW intenSe inve;DgatloDB lead to nm::sts. even UD-
der c11meult arcwnstances..
There have been eonvidiol'l!
In 31 or me 97 cases in wbicb
arrests have been made.
MOSt recently, ronner .Ku
Ja~ Klan members Hubert
RoweU, ~. and Anhw- Haley,
51, pleaded guilty Dec. 9 to feel·
enil ~ tllat tAey coospired TD bum Pt,ac:edonia Baptist CbUfdl ia ~loomvwe. S.C.,
in June 1995.
The database. maintained
by lhe Jusl:la! Department, for
the llnlt tUne ~ves arson inVf:!l'
ti&aiors a amtml SOilJ"C:e of Information on churcb bu~
It iudude! each dlureh aJSOn
..faltrted ED federal authorities
-
- -· - -·· -
---
lftd Iiiiis &Ire name ol the
cb~ il!llot:ation, dare of tbe
Dre.
il'lformatio11 about sus-
M<l details ot me Ire.
Before tile database's creatioD. no eefttnll repcllitary exiSted. In :;ame cases 11ns were
pee$
not reported to State are mar
ShfWI or ID federal authorities.
I
Another DOCiceable change
bas bee11 Ill the 11!5p01\.'ie to
chW'Ch &niOnS by law enfon::e-
----.
ment qems m me lleul.
In pliQ yean~, a Ire at a
small. fW'1I1 dlurch wouldl!ave
drawn one deputy at best aocl
t~erha!B
one sane~
A similar Ire today draws a
team or re.:2era1. state and local
iDvesdlJlb)ni.
"'Ur ageu1S. wttb rask fOrce
members and IOC!ll authorities,
are looldnE at every reponed
6ru which oc~ ill 11 house oJ
I
~ some
-
.
ShaDJey says that ~d be a
big mistake.
"Anon Is a crime thars
ing on in every little lOwn a':
every dly eYeiY day ot tbe
•
;Wnlltp 111 lhe Utmed ~
llO matter what tbe ezteut
'
or
~ might be.,. 811)'1!l Autl1 ~ ~~ ~r
rltJe e
•• e !WIDI'I s 1m>
dr
week," he says.
, r M101J IDvesapdou aaen-
~~
i It we bow about U. we're
lb loot into it."
The Probe ot churcb lli'SOn5
also bas ns.Jited ID charlgl5 1n
SUll te ~ws l'rom C&lasf to coasr..
caJilomla moaiJied a law to ·
~Go". Pete W'abon tD ozrer
~ of up to $1001000 ror
&IDIlng
l~ormatioa lesdlll,lil ro CllUttb
The prevf.
ous limit "'llllll5 ~.ooo.
~th ~ Gov. Dilvfd
:Beasley Sl81le1J a law tbJs swnm~ that makes ~ a
~~ Q)JM(!tions,
b~ ot wonb.lp a ~f:Sn!e
anrpn
'lt'Wt 1t maxirniUil S~:D
ta!Ce of 30 years. Betbre lbat.
th.e crime was considered
~esree ~ aDCI ll8d a
ma~mum sentence ot ave
~
some question whed'ler the
addidonaJ time ud resourc:es
~~led to eJUJrdl a.nlDD iQY~
tiganons will
term.
be~ long
..
· Af;i:be heigi,t-of nadODal ~
cern I over church arsons ~
!lllmmer, President Clnum au-
thoriZed an additional $2<4 mill" A.Tf' funding over t'h
yeaB to help olrset the cast of
Han
the lnvesti~tion. lt Is IIDClelu'
Wbedler adclitiooal 1\lnds will
be pfovide.i beyonG tbat time.
IM Justice Deputment om-
is Uale daDger
of me Task Force being d.ilJ.
banded ~fore 1999 Deocause
dldes c:ontinue to bum &lid
daJs 'my there
the number of Ul)resolVeG
c:asc:slclimbs daily.
"The president (and) ARJ)tlo
n'"' General (Janet) Ren<' ••
t,.'"llllin c;gnuniCLecl to ge[T'"8
e~ebl one of tllese cues
SOlvecl.n says tile Ju:stice Deparorienrs DevaJ Faaick, a>
~rinan
or the laSk fort::e..
I
8ISOD iovestlg..
•
•
�12:46
141016
13'48490
DATE:: ~~J~-,?,_'J=---~..;...._-
HJ '/9
PAGE:
¥oung li¥ amid
the·-·-- ·
Partly becutse or 'llt'hat the
~cal CEJ1t~r discovered, the
sb'TJyiag tile 1oo-yeBr-old mill,.
fhe lll'e damaged or dc:stro~
l.b.rf=e
By GarY FieldS
USA TODAY
DILLON, S.C. - Wh«~ ar
:1101Wi1s DIU'ned Springb.lii AME
Church to t!le ground, the
J)Jac.K c:ongreaation and al~
else !lere expected
the CU!Prim ro be white men
llled with J'11Cia1 balred.
eYei')'I)De
ne ~ended up beJns
two wmretcc~- one the
son or a eounry correcti01'1S omcer, the other a member of the
oalional honor Stldery. Botb
c:cunt blach: tr:eiiS ln
tlleit cirde of l'rlends,
y~rs
Tile am.s of Deonis MooJy
8Dd Neil ThlbDt. boih.l7 Ill: tbe
"time of the blaze Aug. l,
sbcxked this dly of 8,000 De!lo
tled amid tobaeca and !iO)'bi:Bn
llelds. But they are ty])ieal or
many ~ tbe wsped5 arrested
during a wave of cl!urth &nons
that swept lhrough the South
this year and ~1<~ a natlooal outcry. More Ulan 40% or
thase ll1T1!5ted are juveniles.
Perllap5 more sigui.licmtly,
the 8I'T'I!!Ii!; reB~ a national
epidemk.. Tbe number ol juve-
nilm a.ne;ted each year for ar-
son or all kinds increased 24%
l'mm 1.!190 thJ'Q)(lgb 1~5. Juvel!.iles, tbcee 17 and under, now
accaunt for more than ba1t of
all 8.I'SoD8 nationwide..
'lbis sbould ~ an aJatm
bell of some·
thing that L~ endemic In our ~
ciety," says
Brian Levin, dire!:!tor of the
Genter OD Hate
and
Extremism
.. , Sloc:kton ColiD Pomona.
NJ. -rhis also
1*
relates
DetgbDOrtng apartmeat
Duildlngp. Thirty-six people
weft, lett Domeless.
,:. In Dayton, Ohio, In Oaz>.
bel':
to-the
geDel'B.I trend or
incivility and the
use ot violenoe
and aggression
. .
as a meam of aelt-aprl51on 10
young JEDPie."
ot the llf people llm:.'5ted In
CQl!oediUD with 97 chun;b arsons the last two ~ !55, or
12~. are juveniles, acx:ordins
ro me NatiODBJ Anal Task
Fon:e. 1D 1995. ),lvetliles ac-
a COID11y JUVetille a::ourt
JUd8tt
found a 13-year~lc:! boy
re!POil51ble ror tJu"et eoums of
inwlunmry mamlaugbter and
oaei count or aasawt iD the
buJ1ung of 8ll apQJ'1ment ill
July. The .lire ICIUed tbree peo:
pie aliCI aiticuJJy lnjuter:l a
1
tourrb.
.
•'In Oma.ba. a lS.year-old
I
bOy awaits trial
on b.omiei<fe
dlargt:s as a result ot an April
counted for 52'1r ur the 20,000
~~rnSs tar a11 types of arson uaCionwide, ~ from 4.491l ~ 1990.
'Tm not !10 lllll'l8 it mat
lr.il'm ill
~ men jiiYeDiles .were
!EtiiDg fire; Of •
moN.JuvenDes were geaiDg
:says
CIQSh;
M.eJJssa Sldanund. seruor researeb asso·
date at the Na.
tio~a:al Center
ror Juvenile
Justice.
But Merl-K
Police said fhe
I
110y used
a dQarette lighter to
a pile of leaves, l'Wi!IS and
store.
.
Sl!l
other aer,ns ort lire oubdde the
Al'SOD
experts say that many
pmbiem.
public educa·
tton for the National Fire Pro-
teet ion
.
Association, Sl)'5 the "'wbole as.
sue rA ehildteD aJld
l.n out
society is grt1'!151y undensirna'ed."
are
Hidden problem
w:lthD'agfCI'e$Uits
~ of juvenlle 8IS)JI
are mrilmoo, 811d the res~.~Us
trnfc:
-. Tn Pro\/Jdenoe, tu., two
~~
boys were c:barg£d
tn
wi&. ..etting a Ire at
me t
Jobn Goes!:llng.
people who work with juveftiiESI remain unaWill"e of the
Appy, vke
president of
are often
wbJ~
a roor .imdde a
bumlng FamIly Ol>llar sore .
c:ollapied, killIng Fn Capt.
ar A. ••eric:an TUbing
and ,Webbing MW. Besides de.
'"FJre people are paying at·
temiOn ro this. but still, a lot of
meDial hea.tlh and legal people
are not," lll;ys Vaugjm HardtSY, a psyChologist at the
Maine .Medka1 CeDte:r'a Psr
eh1aDy Department in ~
land. I "1
tbJnk irs big~
doD"
&D)'I:locsy>s list,
but it's lncnasiog as a problem."
Jnlrhe late 19809, tbe psyclllatryi def)anment d~overed
tllat among tbe juveniles It was
treating for a wrlety
proO~ more tbaa 3D also 'ftl'l!
or
aJ"SDnlsls.
"And not one ot them baa
beenlrefemed to us for startillg
llrc:s," Hardesty says. ~e j\ls[
~ed to learn thfY were
lire setters...
·:,
I
i
I
i
Portlnnd FJre De,partmeut
~ the Juverure f'lmsetter
PrtJgram ro adcb-e!s the pfQb.
lem or juveJtile aniOnis!s. .
At leu l!SO jyvenilm bave
been througb the prognun 111
live :vears. Sever.!J ca~ries
of jU\I'enfle arsoaistll have
erne~ They inc.lude:
• Crisis
are
lll:ltter.;:
Th~
81'8 YOt.IJ1g people Who have
:10me .kind or cisis
their
lives, SUdl as iJIInmiS gettir1g a
divorce. Tbe !Ire; are CDJ151cl-
m
ered a ca.l.lfor help,
IJo CDpyeat arsonists: These
ate &Goleseents who set !Ires
after l'a'1dlrlg or hearing news
repons about &nona
.
~ JuVeuUes Who lll"''! being
~ by lldUlts b) set
ln:s tor imunulce ar llab:ful
pl.ltpO!II!S.
II> Juvenfle
delinquents"
1'11~ are typleally older adoo
les::enm who exb1r,i[ antlsodal
behavior and have had run-ias
with tbe law.
t1> Patbologicai ar~ooists,
These juveniles get psycho!~.
<a1 at even sexual 8f'atidca.tlon
from ~mn, ll.n!s.. £%pens consider members
the most
ot this group
arbed and d&naer·
ous among all of tbe young ar-
sonisrs.
Lorezm Worten. who vrorks'
with
tlJ(: Insurance Infont~a
tion lmtitllte, !mY'S the problem
ot
Ju~.oentle arson
is great
et)C)Ugb that "parents need to
be WOc::eme(l about it. Ofren,
JII!OI)le bury their beads in the
5aDd &Dd don't notice the pi'Qb.
lems t!le kids are havlns w
No aae Is sure which car~
ry juveniles who burned
�0~/16/97
12:47
141017
'6'48490
d'lUrehe!l iD the SOUUI Al inw.
I
Ptivatety, iDYestlgators say
Juveniles
52o/a• bf
arson-arrests
•
I
they bell~ some. or the cases
are radally motivated. Provtng
that, boWe\ler, Is dUIIcuiL or
Ule 56 .Juveuiles arrest~ a
11111 whi18 and 7 are black.
Nat eae or die ~ has been
clmrged under the Church M·
SDD ~lion Aa. a mugtl
federal law pu;ed last summer that doubled lbe maximwn penalty for churtb anoo
Jlivenile arrests ftJr 8r.iOn have risen 2-4% natiOnwiele
IInce 1990. At.lult arrasts have dropped 10%. Jweniles
are ttv::1se 17 and younger. A lcok at the number$:
I
fnc:lc:lenb
!"'lppft8d
Totall
Juwnla
arrests
amt~
2tl ~. AM DO OM has
beeD chatl:ed witb fedeml civil
riahl5. Yiolatioos, which cat21
me 'PQ51li.bilitY ot up to 10 years
10
ill prislm.
ne SOUth Carolina Law E.oforcement Division's report on
the Springhill CftUrcll ~ llsls
the motive simply llS "thrilL"
ul don't know it those bOys
even knew what color tbat
church (membership) 'il'aS,..
says Bobby McLean. Dillon's
For Eric Willis. a !Dpllornore
dea
at 1.a1:1:a High, the 1re t1u1t
stroyed SorlrlghlU was a Shock.
But tbe llJ'r'eSts of two of his
schooJrnateS was 8.lmait unbe1·
lievable.
. ·
'"That dude
out then! waiting tor anybody
wanting to do wrOng. There are
«ber · Dlatk cllurcbes Dtmby
mey dl4n't go to."
cal'5
nothing but time on
and
tnelr
band!, and nOt enough responsibility."
Melvin Paige, a Dillon Higb
senior and a c:lassmate
and
trienCI or Talbot's when they at·
tended junior high school,
doesn't know bow Tolbot could
bave gotten involved ill a
dlurch man. But Pal8e. who is
&lack. 51)'5 be is certain of one
thi.ng Talbot
a radSt."
-isn,
TWo brtgbt futures
tllrOWII in doubt
The 4re sratted around 2
The arsonist put a pile or
rag; and old T".Shirts beneath a
Lm.
rear- window outside Springhill
AME. d~ the pile with
llgt!tar lluid and lit it with a cig-
arette Ul!lter. By the time
II~
lighten arrived, the chur.;h
was aln:ady lest.
Talbot and Moody were 11'-
rt!Sled three daY! later alter an
a.nonyr.-.ous phone ap came
into an-~.!1. bot llDe.
rront page.
along with
of scho~p winners 11'0111 a
"He'a really bave to go at it
to get hi5 lile b3dt where It
was," LeOetre says, '1t's a tr:rrl-
I
ble stra1D on him nat
•hat his f!.IIW'e IS...
Talbot aftd MoodY race ather
was aU rtgbt"
liDo•
Thll!Of. MQOI3y, their parerml
and Moody's la~er would noe
agree tD interviews for this !D[
ry. But aequaintalkes dei!cribe
Mcl..ean says juveniles have
death.
"'They all have
the
the SOl')' of their 8l115l I?D
page 9, 1'B1bol appear.~ Wlth
ave: other SD.Jden1S ln ll picti.Jre
Wlllls says, 1Bklzw a break troni
washing clothes at a local ctry. "And Moody, Be was C:OI)l
with me. He
too few responsibilities, tOO
much tree Qme aD4 roo much
ps In their ~ a recipe ror
cllsaster.
''I came home al'd 1wf to set
behind the mwe and plow a
few rows," he £ays. "These
Klas. all mey've p Ul do is
come horne and be· bored to
on
srnan. Be got all Jdnds or (a~ Slate Conservation Workshop
clemic) awards all the time,T at ae1m0n University.
as;;istant police chief. "It's just
•
(Talbot) was
Sberilr'S Clepartment mugshotS of llUbot and MoociY are
c.har1eS
In mntlec:QOD. ~ a
rash of blown-UP mailbOXeS
8Dd bmlcen windOM the nixtlt
two well-adjusted teen.agei"S,
of lhe itre and In the weeb
who would not lit into any or
leacSing up tl) tbe blaZe. BUt 1t Is
tbe tr.utltlona.l eate90ries of juthe out.come of the 8$dq;ee
venile IU5lni.sts.
state BlSOD charge that 'IIW
lbey !lay MOO(Iy was a hanl-1
!l.b.ape tb.eir fUtures. 1f coavietworking student who was noc I
ed. 1bey a)uld ·face IJJ) to 30
as girted academically as Tal· I
ben_ but was more ourgoing.
I · ymr.J ln )all. lbey have pleaded aot gUilty. A trial date has
"His daddy Js one of my jall.l
J::Een Sf!.
ers," says D1llon County Sherif I DOtMeaDwbJle.
the tl.lmre ot tbe
Harold Grice. ""a good hardSprtngbill
AME
alSO Is on bold.
working family."'
i
AI1 tbat remaJDs of the Church
TalbOt 'WBii quiet and was a
is a 111elcome sign. Yellow
chemistry IUid math Wfttz. HIS !
atme s:eoe ape siil1 ("ling~ to
future was eonsidered brigbL
rickety 'llrire renoe Umt
Now net~ner boy is allowed , the
~a sandy lot Ule sW: of twa
to mum to Llum High SchOOl
football aelds. A rmd 1s ne&r·
U) OJmplele his senior feBJ'.
I
by and uei.gbbol'5 li\le withill
1Blbal: stays borne, ran:ly
y&rds. But nocm bere Is quiventuring out. Neighbors say
et and !llilliJl 30 allDuU:s; ooly
be occ:asionally 1awd!s a goU'
a blue Jeep aDd a white sedan
ban around the yard. His lawpas$ by. 'l3.cC .:1rtven qve.
yer, A. LaFon LeGette Jr., says I
Lee Davis, 84. llliDb at oae
) Talbot is- taking correspansmall ptecz or Dumed wood.
' dence coiU'SeS lo &et a d.lploma.
The pa!llOf here for 17 )"l''U'S.
Even if lliJbat Is clt!IIU1!lll iD I
Davis is an open
pdDuS
rhe churdl anon. his Ute ll8S
znaD full of faltb that "the Lard
taken a tum no ooe expected of i
p1"01o'ide."
me A sr;uaeaL
I willAltbough
\IDSl.lre bow or
The two eon!ic:t!Dg pol"Eralm 1
when the woefully q11c1e~
or 18.1&« art portrayed in the
suJ'1!d dlurcb will tie rebuilt.
pag15 of the Aug. 8 ~tlc:m of '
:Davis says he Ls DOt anv.f WUh
me loCal ntwspaper, rhi! m I
of the youn& ~
lorl Herald.
I either
"'l lave those two bayS," De
says. "The devil got lntD tbern
!
for a nlgJlt, and somfthtng ~
I
penecl."
1
1
1
1
1
100
1
I
ana
451
�Ol/16/97
12:49
.
'5'48490
~020
I
~..:..;:(p:;,.__
DATE: _f-=--fl.:.....::.l3_0..;,_l
PAGE : __;_______,:I:..._O_A__;._,_ _
Churches rise om aShes,
but job isn't done yet
•Thcre·s no siqle date that marb tbc an-
D.l ~of the dJW"Ch 'burnings 'that have
iit the aation in suclJ an eviJ g1an:. But today"s c:clctntioo of lhc: new SIDctuaty at
tbe salem Missioaary Baptist Onm:h in
Fruitland, T r.:nn., burned ODC year ago. is as
good as aoy md bcner than most.
The destruction of Salem Missionary
was aa act of arson, one of sr;ven c:bwdl
burnings ia early
1996 that gave pronu-
ucnt mulnm.illio~ollar prQgranls of reo
c:cnmuctioo and Iacial outn:ach.
.,. New ~arts iD law eaforoemeat. Wash·
ingtDn has cnated a pen!Wiezn anon data1
base - a loag-overlocked netd.. Hundreds
offed.eml, State aDd loc:al investig;lto~ have
lcariled to :work with ~mmon cooperation. Ccngfr§ ~ lhre 1996 O:lureb Az..
son Prevention Ad. which doubled some
anon pcnSlties... ADd Clinton allocated an
extra $12 inillion to tbe fight.
iJCDcz wan ~oticzd
epidemic of fires
the South.
It was also a black
ctn.ttdl, whidJ pve
. th!'Q! 10 the initial , ...
pic:ion that the 6n::s
v.om:: pan of a radst
llai:IIS
Result 8.n ~lc:d c:ountm:nack on
c;:hurcb bumers. Investigations of 318
churt!h lin$ since January 199S have pro..
conspiracy.
ADd it W2S n:built
iD a profound spirit of
community good will.
Volunteers ranged
du~
I
134 arrestS in 92 cases. The arrest
rate is 31 %, double that for anon ovenll.
The 31 'ccnvic:tions have included four
fi:'om an anoaymous
South CMolina membm of lhc K.u Klux
Klan (for bonsJ)inJcy) and three whites in
Tennesseei(for civil rights violations). Buta
USA TODAY investigation. this year
fuUDd DO evidctlce Of a broad ncist COJl.a
spinley. Ittda:d, bumCIS ~re 121ore likely
biker who worked
two days &l:ld donated
$1 00, to President
Clinton and Vice.
Plcs:ident Go~. wbo
also showed up to
lend a hand. T~
!hey sbowcd that ifn--
bigoted. Almost balf
10 be young tba.D
lilial mistrust is IlOl
overcome, neither is i\ tile Da.tioD'S
those BCC\lscd were
~der age 18. Many
~were aas ofv;m.
dalism. Olb~ ~
t.asily
iDesaq:sable fate.
Indeed, USA TO.
DAY has found tbe
tins have inspin:d a.n
arr.ray o( new ~~ns.
es Yo chureh buruing
accidentaL
Some
were set to mver otb·
erai.me:s.
That's ~ to say
mlor doesn't J:Datier.
and racism. They 1ft-.
dude:
.,. New babits i..
sion equipment and better insuraD.c:e plans.
~ N~w efforts iD cooperadoa. Routinely,
businesseS, ccmmwtity leaders aud residents bave joined together to helz:, rebuilci
bumed cb'~bc:s. lbe National Counci.i of
Ch\lrc:bd and the Christian Alliaoal.
among other 8f'OUIJSt have m:ated p:rma-
.
_
chUtcb building. Bumed chun:hes ~ "bems ·
rebuilt with tirc-mardant matmi.als and in
less r=:~ote plal:zs, with better fitc..supprcso
The motive for 1he
Salem MisuioEW)' fire
is still Wlk:Down, for
iDS'Wlc:e. But even ifilr
was zaot !iiCt by ru:ists,
�01/16/97
.~
12:47
Ill 018
'a'48490
,-.
•'·
DATE:
____;,~~-~~.,;..._::_:.~__:.q"~-
PAGE:_...!:!3~1f-=--II
••
Up from t~e ashes
Congfegants gather tonight in Fruit13nd, Tenn., for the rebirth of
Salem MiSsionary Baptist Church, ~hich was bwned by arsonists
a year ago. The church's resurrectiot!l has been an act of love.
shoes of Moses BDd wazchiDg
me waters pan. We 1w1 flllth
before, but until something like
8y Rfdlard PricE
and Gary Ftelds
USA TODAY
T
011@
FRUin.AND, TetUL
onight. tor me fh~
lime slnl;!e ar.oonists
l>umed their
~urc.b
to the grouDd ezadly
vear ago, the people or ~
lem Missionary Baptist Churdl
wiD Jo)tiJUy ~Jither 1a a br&Dd
DeW !iaDctua.ry,
They'll aiw ~:banks tot the
brick! and mortar thallOO vol·
unteers used to iebuild the
cbiUdl. lbey'U give '~hanks for
tbe ~~everything trom candles to $2!Wl,OOO in cash fnJm as
tar off as Hong .kong.
But these 65 devout Bapti!e
save tbeir Geepest sratitude far
the outpouring uf love, support
aDd sacriiic:e trom people of all
colors and religions from
lll'OUnd the globe. That is the
true miracle, rhey say. . . ·
S&lem Baptist may be &he
IIIIlSt
dramatic eumgle
emotional
or lbe
implld from this
ymrs uprmr UVI!!:r 318 th~ll
atSons since Jan. 1, i995. Ra~ batred., inltially SllSt)eCtl!d
ID black c:b\D"Ch D11!l6 like this
one, 'IIIIlS only one or many mo.
lives tound for the blaza5..
~ at 5Blem BBIIGSt reo
unK~lved, ~t the Rev.
Daniel I:lilmald3on 'DO
Tile
mains
to.,-
thinks af!Out wba set ll. '1llis Is
no time to d'lllell on eYiL nus is
a time to telebrate. Ranem-
ber tlliS: Mast of our \IOIWlteer.i
have been lllhite." be says.
Con~ts see the
miracle
of Salem Baptist iD many ways.
Far Donaldson., the past yew
has btu lilte ~inS Ill the
this happens. you dQn't reall)'
undersmnd. Now Ye undersamd. We bave been touthed
79 tbe
oldest cb:un:h member,
com-
pares tbe aperteuee to JISU!I
awakening Lazarus from Cbe
dead ...My dl"eBJ??II
had
died...
be !B~ ""'nlls brougbl tbem.
lleck. 1 ba"'e dreams .apGlenD Walden Ukenslhe past
year II) tbe eYeftlng tba1 Je~US
fed :l,OOO ps~Pie wilh two ISb
and ave loaves of bn!lld. • Al
lhe age of :19, I bave aam Ule
work of
me
Lord dlred1y,..
ays Waldon, who speru much
ot 1996 f~ coDSinldioa
vultmteenl.. ""' cannot cpr1IIIIS
to yw bo• th~n feels...
If lt 1$ 8. minlcle. ll c:ame iD
Dhs and pieces smr1ill8 on tbat
very mt nigbl DonaldsOft'S t.
mer, Lulher. usually dropped
by tbe ch1Udllll9 p.m. 011 Saturdays U> t\IJ'1I up the btm for
lhe put day's !lervice. But Oil
Saturday, Dec. 30, 1895, be
showed up two bOlUS early tor
reasons that to this day be c:an1
ezplaln. 11 -ns ]\l5l &D impulse.
It znay bave ~ved his life. U
be had waited, be rnigbt !lave
nm
me aJ5CI1is25 iD this
lonely ~ of Tenne!l!lee
mto
alWI~
Far by 9 p.m., the
church ,.., abla:te.
By the time Donah1SOft
heard about
th~
nre and
showed up 11.0 hour later, the
ch~ was .,ae. Members
wen!! !ibmned.. WbeD tnls ~
~lian
standi11g in the darkne!& laSZ
yesz' llot sure wbat it all
meant, Docaldson aperienc::t'ld
thei!J"S[ ad of generosity. Tbc
pracher of Momlng Star Bap-
dsl ! Church in Dea.l'by Hwn-
by the Lord.·
Theodore BoWl. at
~d ever since.
am ronnt!d in 1872,
c:ongreganls met l.lnc1er a c:anoPY of branches. But witlliD a
few yf!lmi, tbey built their
cllurdl, ancl it !lad SIOOd 011 Ulis
Dolin walked
up IWI offered
use' or tJW chun:h's education
R»Widin& for 9e'I"VVcc!s for II!IIODI
.., Donaldson ftllted.
That kiDd o1 seUI~ action is
mal!e eYery dlly. JIS thJs Satu.rday, 100 DeW Bibles anived,
a &in or Brigb.t Hope Inwna1Woal pubJ.isben;. And this Bf·
teraoon. 11 WOil'IAII from Iowa,
wn'om Salem Baptists have
~I!J' met,
15 scheduled tD
s.DOw up with 100 ~ !lett1ng>
for~ lbe De'W
4iJlUii IWl.
7fbere's a thousand srnries
like that," DOnal.:!SOn says.
Salem~
received 1101:
one brand DeW BammoD4 or~
but t'IVO - Me trom a man
in IBcQ.on. me otber rrom a
wofno.D ill TeDfteSSeB.
Someone sent Oocald!oll a
complert 9et of paslrlral boaD
rcnj IUS omee. Flrst Bagt~sC
Churdl in Nashville sent BYery-
tlllhg a sunCiay scnool c.ould
ll pair of chalkboards, 30
want:
eMirs. a pile or
hymnalS and
eni)ugb school supplie for alL
central
'Bapast of Man1n.
Tenn.. took
CBJ"e
of 6ll choir
rotleS and lOU lymD IIOOk:s.
Arid an DliOnymbUS donor !'ram
:&renrwoocs. Tenn.. aonated the
cri:ss, cilndles, a brass vase and
$600 ror a communion table.
Salem Baptist last i1:s thercenturY-Old gutpit Bible,
~ec2
but higb school c:laSsmates
I
3;t.
II
II
or
Dlmaldson's only sister - wbo.
ctied. lBSI. February Ill ~ 48 donated a new one.
"Sclme da~ it feeb fl3 thougf!.
the whole world bas been
touched by thi<J," says Foi'T'e3l
Morris, who's been in chalBe or
the~din&
lfs easy ta urtdel"5tand wby
lie feel! tbat way. Eve11lDW'isb
from Japan, Germany, Fr.u!ce
BDd Ausrnlia bave dropped ill
to work a few haul'&.
It ba.sn't always 1011e
smoathly, of COI.IJ'Sil!. With an
untra1MCJ workforte, mi.sl:akes
bave been made. Church
members bad to tear down a
&edion of brick WBll because it
b.ad been mislaid. But every
avenNality has just added tD
the stories about new friends
· made ancl adventure sh~.
One story srill bring; cackles
· every time It'S retoia. It's about
Bill Clinton's Aug. 19 viSit,
when the preslCient SDent an
bour and a half laying sheet•
rod. As DonaJoson tellS it. pee.
pie ben: were imt~J"'elSSed. But
whal d.ellglus tnem rnost l.s that
VerneU Arnold, the 6&-year-old
motradOr, IS llOW ·one of the
few people ln the world wbo
had lhe re;pOnsi~illty of teUlni
tbe pft:Stdent of the United
Stalei what to do.n
The churcll isn't quite done.
The dedic.atton ISD't until Jill\.
Ul, and landscaping won't De
done until SPrin&. But the sane·
Nary is finished enough to
�01/16/97
;;
12:48
I
'6'48490
!41019
I
. _...,
1'
I
I
.
I
witJuand the UlWld!!:I'OIB
Cdebr*'llon expectecl1Dfti8bt.
ll will be st&nOlfll TIJ[Itll OnlY
m me sanduar'Y. wllich I CBD .
seat 2QO.p\US. MorN I! S!ittiDI
Ul' TV monl~ ln me 4iD!ng
ball so 100 GUtet wonhlpen
c:sm .atc.b.
.
I
It's a beautiful, T-sbaped
ehurth. 11 $450,000 ediBCii With
brick el(latior, aak trtm and.
mauve carp:ting that matche!
abe smiftt!d.gtas5 windoM (the
women picked the colon;). Be!ld~ me dinirlg balL tt baS a
1
lcltchel\ and live ol!ces. !
,.,.··
'
-.
MaterialS are ~
and UJe new church baS 'emtr•
~ ligbon& exit signs!and a
Bnd J)UJ"&Iar a]ann !)l"Stem.
0\ltsiCie, a sign vtartl5 everyone
that ~ng a chu~ iS a v\.
olatioft of s:ate 81\d res:Sefal law.
State and res:~eral mvestig$-o
dona iftto the anon are t:Ontinutng, l...0(:9J5 are suapecit!d beca~ of the dlun:b'S r;emoreoess: ~cslcle~ would. bzive ba4
a bard time lnding iL: A ~
1io.~e, rar.ial or otherwise. Is \ln-
~after 1111
tl)at'J
~ sa1d
and done over me JIIS 'Y'JIII',
Salern Ba.L)tlsls areo't wonied
abWt analber are.
I
"It taJl ODly take away a.
building.'" Donaldson Say&. .,,
cal\ fteYet
d.~!l ~
p::ned imide our
..
'<
33
n
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Terry Edmonds
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Office of Speechwriting
James (Terry) Edmonds
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1995-2001
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
<a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/show/36090" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7763294" target="_blank">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
2006-0462-F
Description
An account of the resource
Terry Edmonds worked as a speechwriter from 1995-2001. He became the Assistant to the President and Director of Speechwriting in 1999. His speechwriting focused on domestic topics such as race relations, veterans issues, education, paralympics, gun control, youth, and senior citizens. He also contributed to the President’s State of the Union speeches, radio addresses, commencement speeches, and special dinners and events. The records include speeches, letters, memorandum, schedules, reports, articles, and clippings.
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Extent
The size or duration of the resource.
635 folders in 52 boxes
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Original Format
The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
Paper
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Church Burning Task Force
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Office of Speechwriting
James (Terry) Edmonds
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
2006-0462-F
Is Part Of
A related resource in which the described resource is physically or logically included.
Box 12
<a href="http://www.clintonlibrary.gov/assets/Documents/Finding-Aids/2006/2006-0462-F.pdf" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7763294" target="_blank">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Provenance
A statement of any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation. The statement may include a description of any changes successive custodians made to the resource.
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Adobe Acrobat Document
Medium
The material or physical carrier of the resource.
Reproduction-Reference
Date Created
Date of creation of the resource.
12/9/2014
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
42-t-7763294-20060462F-012-011-2014
7763294