State leaders are reacting to the burning of an African-American Church in Greenville.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the arson and vandalism of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville, where "Vote Trump" was spray-painted on an outside wall.
“I don’t want anybody to be intimidated so that they are fearful to go and vote, but more importantly, that’s a house of worship,” says Second District Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-Bolton). “Why would somebody do that to a house of worship? If there are some disagreements, in America, we just settle our differences, for the most part, at the ballot box.”
Mayor Errick Simmons has characterized the attack against the historically Black congregation as a hate-crime aimed at intimidating African-American voters in the area.
“I’ve been in law enforcement too long to make a decision without knowing the facts so we’re going to wait and see,” says Governor Phil Bryant. He has served as the Chairman of Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump’s Campaign in Mississippi.
“Whatever that had to do with it, the important part is this was a very serious felon that was committed [sic] in the burning of the church. So once they apprehend that individual it’s important that justice is going to be done.”
A Go Fund Me online fundraiser has received more than $150,000 to help offset the cost of repairs to the church.
