    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [July 2, 1996]
    [Pages 1047-1048]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Announcing Emergency Action To Prevent Church Burnings
    July 2, 1996

        Good morning. I'd like to begin today by saluting the law
    enforcement officers who made the arrest in Arizona yesterday to avert a
    terrible terrorist attack. Their dedication and hard work over the last
    6 months may have saved many lives, and they deserve our thanks. I'd
    like to

    [[Page 1048]]

    offer a special congratulations to the gentleman to my right, Ray Kelly,
    the Under Secretary of the Treasury for Enforcement, for his role in
    that endeavor.
        Just as we acted to prevent a vicious crime from occurring there,
    today I'm announcing stepped up efforts to prevent the spread of
    violence against houses of worship. Again, I want to thank Mr. Kelly and
    Nancy Gist, the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, who is
    standing to my left, the representatives of the law enforcement
    organizations who are here and who have been supporting our efforts.
        These attacks against African-American churches and other houses of
    worship are an affront to our most basic beliefs of religious liberty
    and racial tolerance. They pose a challenge to our entire Nation. I am
    gratified that law enforcement, government, business, and religious
    leaders are coming together to meet this challenge. Today attorneys
    general from throughout our Nation are meeting at Howard University to
    discuss the problem.
        I am also pleased that Congress acted quickly to pass legislation
    making it easier to prosecute and punish anyone who burns a house of
    worship, and I am eager to sign that legislation as soon as possible.
    I'm gratified by the outpouring of private support that will help to
    rebuild communities that are torn apart by these actions.
        But we must do more to prevent these crimes. Last week I asked
    Federal emergency management administrator James Lee Witt to take the
    lead in working with law enforcement to find ways to stop the burnings
    before they happen and to give our communities the tools they need to
    help in the prevention effort.
        Today I am taking emergency action to prevent church burnings by
    transferring $6 million to communities in 12 targeted States. This
    emergency transfer would allow every county in the affected States to
    hire a new police officer for the summer to patrol the back roads, to
    visit the churches, to keep watch for signs of trouble.
        These new officers, working with local police and community watch
    groups, can maintain a wall of protection to ward off people who would
    strike out in hate at a house of worship. Or communities can spend the
    money for other purposes, installing floodlights, hiring private
    security guards, paying overtime for existing officers, whatever they
    believe will work best to forestall the fires.
        I'm asking Congress to quickly approve the transfer through a
    special procedure that allows action without a time-consuming floor
    vote. We don't have any time to waste. With this step, the National
    Government will be helping local police not only to investigate arson
    and apprehend the guilty but to help to physically protect churches from
    harm in the first place.
        If this emergency measure is not enough to beat back the church
    burnings, we will take further steps as needed. This is a struggle
    against racism and religious bigotry, and we will escalate that struggle
    as necessary with enough people power and willpower to make sure the
    struggle is won. This is a test not just for law enforcement but for all
    law-abiding Americans.
        Earlier today I signed a proclamation designating a National Month
    of Unity. During the month of July, I call on religious leaders of all
    faiths to speak from the pulpit and emphasize the need for healing. And
    I call on all citizens to join together, to reach out to one another, to
    strengthen the ideals that light our way and keep us strong.
        On Thursday we will celebrate America's Independence Day. This year,
    let us take this opportunity to rededicate ourselves once again to the
    proposition that all Americans are created equal and that every American
    should be able to worship in freedom and freedom from fear.
        Thank you very much. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:39 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House. H.R. 3525, the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996, approved July
    3, was assigned Public Law No. 104-155. The National Month of Unity
    proclamation of July 1 is listed in Appendix D at the end of this
    volume.