Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church Burned

By Shane Street

An African American Baptist

church in Greenville, Mississippi was
burned and vandalized with ProTrump graffiti late Tuesday night
November the 1st. Reports state that
the majority of the damage was done
to the main sanctuary with no reported
injuries. Someone had spray painted
Vote Trump on the side of the
building.
Mayor Errick Simmons stated in
interview, He spoke to some of the
churches 200 congregants who were
fearful and felt intimidated. They felt
the vandalism was not just an attack on

the church, but on the black

community.
The church itself has served as a
symbol in the community, who has felt
a deep blow in the hearts of those who
attended there.
The case is currently being
investigated as a hate crime and it has
yet to be determined what caused the
fire. An $11,000 dollar reward his been
offered for information on the cause
and perpetrators of the incident.
Therese Apel posted on twitter
later that night confirming the FBIs

involvement announcing, The FBI

Jackson Division is aware of the
situation in Greenville, and we are
working with our local, state and
federal law enforcement partners to
determine in any civil rights crimes
were committed.
Currently the police have not
released any information on leads
within the investigation. During a press
conference, officials said that though
currently there are no suspects, they
have detained a person of interest for
questioning. There is no surveillance
footage of the scene, but police are
asking for anyone who may have
filmed the fire.

J. Blair Reeves Jr., pastor for the

community congregation launched a
gofundme page in hopes of raising
money to rebuild the church. He had

hoped to raise $10,000 to repair the

damages, but could not have
anticipated the national response to
this issue. As of November 4, 2016 the
generous donors and well-wishers
who remain anonymous have raised
over $220,000. On the account Reeves
wrote:
The animus of this election
cycle combined with the potent racial
history of burning black churches as a
political symbol makes this event
something we must not ignore. Only
two weeks ago, the internet came
together to help repair a North
Carolina GOP field office that had
been burned by thugs. Justice
demands we do
the same now. It
demands more
details as they
are available.
Can we do this?
Can we help
show the world,
the country, and
most
importantly, the
churchgoers of
Hopewell Baptist
that we, as a
society, are
better than this?

Black churches across America

have long been a sanctuary and safe
haven for the African American
community, and thus has continued to

be a major target for racists and white

supremacists trying to strike blows
into the psyche of the culture. The
earliest notions of freedom,
community, education, hope,
leadership, and the strategy to counter
oppression came from within the walls
of black churches. Hopes of marches,
peaceful protests, unity, and the end of
segregation grew and evolved within
the walls of black churches.
Black churches have suffered at
the hands of thugs, motivated by hate
and racism throughout the civil rights
era, a tragedy that continues today.
Many will point fingers, in
claims at the hand who started the fire.
Some will blame pro-Clinton radicals,
conspiring to shame the Trump name.
Others will point to Ku Klux
sympathizers, uneducated and
irrational in their outdated belief
system. But truly the villain of such
unpatriotic and evil misconducts
should not be the focus of discussion.
American citizens are being bullied
against exercising their constitutional
rights, for fear of harm and
repercussion on their persons and
families. We are the nation founded on
choice, and fairness to each.

We stand today a nation divided

by political candidates, torn by issues
of economics, healthcare, and
immigration. We focus on subjects we
deem imperative to all, flowing to all
communities within American borders.
Most important of these issues,
especially during a time of such
momentous freedom; To elect the
leaders we must stand behind, we
must not forget these liberties of which
many have shed blood to protect past
and present. We as a nation, as a
society, must show those criminals
who cannot evolve along side our
diverse democracy, that we will not
stand for domestic terrorism. We will
not stand for outright acts that shame
our morals. When one group of
Americans are bullied, no matter their
race, sex, or identity, we are all
bullied. We must unite, as Americans,
as brothers, and sisters, as history has
shown we are so capable. One nation,
under God. With liberty, and justice,
for ALL.