[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 87 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1080]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CONDEMNING CHURCH BURNINGS

                                 ______


                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 13, 1996

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong condemnation of 
a tragic trend--the vicious burning of African-American churches in the 
South.
  On average, two African-American churches have been burned, under 
suspicious circumstances, each month over the past 1\1/2\ years.
  I rise to voice my outrage and condemnation of these church arsons. I 
also speak out on behalf of the constituents of the Third District of 
Connecticut, who are also deeply troubled about the burnings of 
African-American churches in the South. We share the national sadness 
over the loss of these historic and sacred spaces. As towns and 
neighborhoods begin the process of healing and re-building, it is 
imperative that we send a long, clear, and firm message to the 
perpetrators of these sick crimes--Americans will not tolerate bigotry 
or hate crimes. The perpetrators must and will be punished.
  History teaches us that we all have a great stake in the battle 
against forces of hatred. This quote about totalitarian oppression 
illustrates the point:

       In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't 
     speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the 
     Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they 
     came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I 
     wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, 
     and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they 
     came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up. 
     (Martin Niemoeller, attributed)

  African-American leaders and members of the clergy in my district 
have spoken out locally to express support for their brothers and 
sisters in need in the South. These fires could easily occur in any 
region of the country. Today it is in Southern neighborhoods, tomorrow 
it could be in yours, or mine. We must speak louder than the voices of 
hate. Those voices encourage violence and have resulted in the 
destruction of churches built on faith, hope and love.
  The Reverend Lester McCorn, pastor of the Varick AME Zion Church and 
Auxiliary Bishop Theodore Brooks of the Beulah Heights First 
Pentecostal Church in New Haven in my district spoke out earlier this 
week.
  Rev. McCorn said: ``This is in on way an isolated incident limited to 
the South. It is old fashioned hatred.''
  Bishop Brooks said:

       The South might be just the beginning . . . Anything can 
     happen at any time, anywhere, at any point. While racism may 
     be less hidden in the South it's just as prevalent and 
     dangerous in the North.

  So I'm proudly calling on others to come together and to speak out 
against the voices and actions of hatred in this country.

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