A church in South Carolina is on fire tonight in just the latest incident of a black church burning in the South. Firefighters are currently on the scene at the Mount Zion AME Church:
Here's a look at the fire scene in Greeleyville: http://t.co/E1ATZxVCPt #chsnews pic.twitter.com/dAkzDzCH61
— ABC News 4 (@ABCNews4) July 1, 2015
Here is a picture of the fire right now at Mount Zion AME, taken by Cheryl Oliver #chsnews pic.twitter.com/M5MNjgADf1
— Melissa Boughton (@mboughtonPC) July 1, 2015
Heavy fire at Mt Zion AME church near Greeleyville in Williamsburg County. Mutual aid dept's on scene. pic.twitter.com/GoQESXdJPS
— Carter Jones (@SCFireCarter) July 1, 2015
We're en route to an AME church fire in Greeleyville. Official say the bldg roof has collapsed & 4 FDs are on scene. #scnews
— Stacy Jacobson (@StacyJacobsonTV) July 1, 2015
2 men linked w the KKK were convicted for burning down Mt. Zion AME Church in 1995.No word tonight if officials think the fire is suspicious
— Stacy Jacobson (@StacyJacobsonTV) July 1, 2015
.@LCWxDave says there was lighting in the Greeleyville area around 6-7p.m. officials haven't said what they believe started Mt. Zion fire.
— Stacy Jacobson (@StacyJacobsonTV) July 1, 2015
I hope this is just coincidence. The Klan burned this same church back in 1995. #BlackChurchesBurning pic.twitter.com/hMXIbcPA7X
— Cezar E. McKnight (@cezarmcknight) July 1, 2015
Yes, Mount Zion AME Church was, somewhat infamously, burned to the ground by the KKK 20 years ago. Bill Clinton spoke at its dedication the following year.
And this is only the latest black church to be set on fire in the South. Six other churches in multiple states burned in just the past week, and some of them are being investigated as arson.
And, of course, there are serious concerns about these fires following events in Charleston, where a shooter went into a black church specifically to target and kill African-Americans.
Update- 11: 18 pm EST: Don Lemon spoke with an AME senior pastor tonight about the fire. You can watch the video below, via CNN:
UPDATE — Wed., July 1, 10:00 a.m.: Investigators say this latest fire does not appear to be a criminal act. Read more here.
[featured image via Cheryl Oliver]
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