Clean Air

THE WASHINGTON POST MONDAY, JUNE 10, 1996 Top Aide Defends Methods in Church Arson Probe Justice Dept. Official Cites Need to Be 'Vigorous'; Pastors-Air Complaints in Meeting With Reno Associated Press "Acts of violence against the spiritual Charles Jones of the National Council but Patrick said that such a conspira- centers of our communities must be of Churches. The New York-based cy could still be found. Federal investigators are commit- stopped. We will devote whatever re- ecumenical group has worked to "I think we'd be irresponsible, con- ted to finding the people responsible sources are necessary to solve these draw attention to the more than 30 sidering the pattern of these crimes, for a rash of fires at black churches in crimes." fires at predominantly black southern the fact that so many of them have the South even if that means giving At a news conference today, offi- churches in the past 18 months. been black churches and so many in church members polygraph tests and cials said, Justice and Treasury offi- "The sense of dissatisfaction the South, not to consider whether searching church records, a top Jus- cials are expected to describe ways [among pastors] is not around the they are linked in some way," he said. tice Department official said yester- to prevent church fires and help as- amount of the investigation, but the At yesterday's meeting, the pas- day. suage frustrated pastors after the sense of intimidation that they feel tors presented evidence of alleged About 30 pastors from burned-out ministers meet with Treasury Secre- from investigators," Jones said on racist motivation for the attacks, churches met with Attorney General tary Robert E. Rubin. CNN. "They feel that they are the which Jones said could help lead to Janet Reno and other officials yester- During yesterday's meeting, offi- targets of the investigation. What has the uncovering of a national conspira- day to voice their dissatisfaction with cials also responded to complaints happened is the victims have also be- cy. "We believe it could be regional, it federal, state and local investigations, that investigators have unfairly made come the suspects." could be state. We do know there is a which they say have focused more on church members targets. Patrick said he hoped the meeting conspiracy of ideology in whatever the church members and clergy than "Our responsibility is to solve with the pastors would lead to a bet- way that you look at it," Jones said, on outside suspects. these crimes, and we are determined ter understanding about the fires and citing similarities in the fires. Reno told the pastors about the to do that," Deval L. Patrick, assis- the investigation. "It's incumbent on Jones said the church fires are just Church Arson Task Force, a joint ef- tant attorney general for civil rights, our investigators to be sensitive a symptom of the racial tension in the fort of the Treasury and Justice de- said on CNN's "Late Edition." "That at the same time that they are vigor- country, which he said is as great as partments, which will report to Presi- includes whatever investigative tools ous and determined," he said. it was in the 1950s and '60s. dent Clinton about the status of the are at our disposal and then some." The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco investigations. But investigators have made and Firearms has opened cases on 30 "The entire administration is com- church members targets by requiring church fires throughout the South, mitted to putting an end to these polygraph tests, issuing subpoenas including two last week in Charlotte, fires, and we will continue to pursue for church records and telling con- N.C., and Greensboro, Ala. these matters vigorously," Reno said gregations that everyone is a sus- Investigators have not uncovered a in a statement after the meeting. pect, complained the Rev. Mac national conspiracy behind the fires, Pastor Preaches Forgiveness Near Remains of Sanctuary Overflow Crowd Gathers for 1st Service Since Fire Associated Press er collectively to see that it does," she said. CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 9- "My friends, we have a challenge Song, tears and laughter filled Mat- like we've never had before. We, thews Murkland Presbyterian know churches were very important. Church today as services were held for the first time since a nearby in the civil rights struggle. It's sanctuary was destroyed by fire. where we met," Evers-Williams.said? "To whoever started this fire, it "Sometimes it takes something like* took you about $1.50 worth of gas this to wake us up." and two boxes of matches to destroy Members of the small church, for a building," pastor Larry Hill said cated in one of the city's most affly during an emotional sermon to an ent sections, could not deny they overflow crowd of more than 200 were deeply hurt. mostly black worshipers. "I'm so low I just don't know what "What you don't know is that all to do," Lennie Stitt, a church'mem's you destroyed was a building. You ber for 45 years, said before the did not destroy the church!" two-hour service began. "The feeb Hill preached his message of for- ings are so bad, it hurts so deep. giveness and reconciliation just 100 About half of the people in the yards away from the charred re- pews today were visitors. They mains of the white clapboard church cluded several white clergymen and that dates to 1903. The current some elected officials, including. church replaced the old sanctuary Reps. Sue Myrick, a white Republic about 20 years ago. can, and Melvin Watt, a black Demos Authorities have confirmed that crat. Thursday night's fire was set, but Myrick told church members the have not released any details. Feder- were not alone. al, state and local law enforcement "This community, if you want agencies are looking into whether done, will help you rebuild this the blaze is linked to about 30 other church," she said. recent fires at black churches in the Barry Norman, a deacon at the South. predominantly white Carmel Presby Myrlie Evers-Williams, chairwom- terian Church, attended the services an of the NAACP, visited-the with his wife and their three young burned-out sanctuary this afternoon, children. telling members the rash of church "We want to show support for our fires in the South is "going to stop." brothers and sisters," he said. "And we're going to come togeth- want to show them we care."