Update: Mississippi church burned & vandalized with ‘Vote Trump’
Hopewell Baptist Church is damaged by fire and graffiti in Greenville, Mississippi, U.S., November 2, 2016. Courtesy Angie Quezada/Delta Daily News via REUTERS
Nov 2 (Reuters) – A black church in Greenville, Mississippi,
caught fire and was spray-painted with the words “Vote Trump” a
week before the U.S. presidential election, police said on
Wednesday.
caught fire and was spray-painted with the words “Vote Trump” a
week before the U.S. presidential election, police said on
Wednesday.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it was working with
local authorities to probe the blaze at the Hopewell M.B. Church
on Tuesday night.
local authorities to probe the blaze at the Hopewell M.B. Church
on Tuesday night.
“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 if any civil rights crimes
were committed,” the federal agency said in a statement.
Greenville, and we are working with our local, state and federal
law enforcement partners to determine if any civil rights crimes
were committed,” the federal agency said in a statement.
Police offered few immediate details about the fire and the
message about the Republican presidential nominee that was
painted on the side the building. A press conference was planned
for Wednesday morning.
message about the Republican presidential nominee that was
painted on the side the building. A press conference was planned
for Wednesday morning.
Black churches in the U.S. South have long been a base of
support for the Democratic Party.
support for the Democratic Party.
The incident in Mississippi comes about two weeks after a
suspected arson at the Orange County Republican Party’s office
in Hillsborough, North Carolina. A message reading “Nazi
Republicans leave town or else,” was spray-painted near the
building..
suspected arson at the Orange County Republican Party’s office
in Hillsborough, North Carolina. A message reading “Nazi
Republicans leave town or else,” was spray-painted near the
building..
No arrests have been made in that incident, which Indiana
Governor Mike Pence, the Republican vice presidential candidate,
called “political terrorism.”
Governor Mike Pence, the Republican vice presidential candidate,
called “political terrorism.”
(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and
Alistair Bell)
Alistair Bell)
Posts
