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Arson not suspected in fire at black South Carolina church Arson not suspected in fire at black South Carolina church
(35 minutes later)
A fire that destroyed a predominantly black church in South Carolina on Tuesday night, two weeks after a shooting killed nine black churchgoers in Charleston, was not arson, according to a report by the Associated Press on Wednesday.A fire that destroyed a predominantly black church in South Carolina on Tuesday night, two weeks after a shooting killed nine black churchgoers in Charleston, was not arson, according to a report by the Associated Press on Wednesday.
The fire at Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Greeleyville, located about 50 miles north of Charleston, was not intentionally set, the AP reported, citing a federal law enforcement source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.The fire at Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Greeleyville, located about 50 miles north of Charleston, was not intentionally set, the AP reported, citing a federal law enforcement source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Fire crews brought the blaze under control overnight on Tuesday. By Wednesday morning, only the walls of the Greeleyville church remained standing. The roof had collapsed.Fire crews brought the blaze under control overnight on Tuesday. By Wednesday morning, only the walls of the Greeleyville church remained standing. The roof had collapsed.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and is still under investigation. No one is believed to have been in the church at the time the fire erupted, and there have been no injuries reported.The cause of the fire remains unknown, and is still under investigation. No one is believed to have been in the church at the time the fire erupted, and there have been no injuries reported.
There was speculation that the cause of the fire may have been related to reports of storms and lightning in the area earlier in the evening.There was speculation that the cause of the fire may have been related to reports of storms and lightning in the area earlier in the evening.
But since a young white man shot nine black people in the Emanuel AME church on 17 June, at least six predominantly African American churches in the south have been set ablaze. The fire at Mount Zion brings that tally to at least seven.But since a young white man shot nine black people in the Emanuel AME church on 17 June, at least six predominantly African American churches in the south have been set ablaze. The fire at Mount Zion brings that tally to at least seven.
Mark Keel, chief of South Carolina law enforcement division, said investigators would be on the scene first thing Wednesday morning.Mark Keel, chief of South Carolina law enforcement division, said investigators would be on the scene first thing Wednesday morning.
“We do know they apparently had some strong storms,” Keel said. “Talked to a guy who said they had a lot of lightning down there tonight. I don’t know whether that had anything to do with it at all.”“We do know they apparently had some strong storms,” Keel said. “Talked to a guy who said they had a lot of lightning down there tonight. I don’t know whether that had anything to do with it at all.”
South Carolina newspaper the Post and Courier reported that Mount Zion AME was burned to the ground in a Ku Klux Klan attack in 1995. Two KKK members pleaded guilty to starting the fire, as well as a second at another predominantly black church. They were each sentenced to nearly two decades in prison.South Carolina newspaper the Post and Courier reported that Mount Zion AME was burned to the ground in a Ku Klux Klan attack in 1995. Two KKK members pleaded guilty to starting the fire, as well as a second at another predominantly black church. They were each sentenced to nearly two decades in prison.
President Bill Clinton spoke at Mount Zion AME in 1996, telling churchgoers: “Our hearts must be purged of any temptation to go back to those times of division that cost us so dearly, especially here in the Southern part of our country.” President Bill Clinton spoke at Mount Zion AME in 1996, telling churchgoers: “Our hearts must be purged of any temptation to go back to those times of division that cost us so dearly, especially here in the southern part of our country.”
Williamsburg County councilman Eddie Woods Jr said of Tuesday night’s blaze: “That was a tough thing to see … It is hurting those people again.Williamsburg County councilman Eddie Woods Jr said of Tuesday night’s blaze: “That was a tough thing to see … It is hurting those people again.
“But we’re going to rebuild. If this was someone, they need to know that hate won’t stop us again.”“But we’re going to rebuild. If this was someone, they need to know that hate won’t stop us again.”
Other southern churches to have been hit in the last two weeks include:Other southern churches to have been hit in the last two weeks include:
The Greater Miracle Apostolic Holiness Church in Tallahassee, Florida, also burned to the ground last week, but fire officials said the cause was thought to have been an electrical fault.The Greater Miracle Apostolic Holiness Church in Tallahassee, Florida, also burned to the ground last week, but fire officials said the cause was thought to have been an electrical fault.
Another fire, at Fruitland Presbyterian Church in Gibson County, Tennessee, on 24 June, may have been caused by a lightning strike, but an investigation is ongoing.Another fire, at Fruitland Presbyterian Church in Gibson County, Tennessee, on 24 June, may have been caused by a lightning strike, but an investigation is ongoing.
Tuesday evening also saw the last of the services for the nine victims of the Charleston shooting, as tributes were paid to longtime pastor Daniel L Simmons Sr.Tuesday evening also saw the last of the services for the nine victims of the Charleston shooting, as tributes were paid to longtime pastor Daniel L Simmons Sr.
The three-hour service for Simmons drew a large crowd to Greater St Luke AME Church in Charleston.The three-hour service for Simmons drew a large crowd to Greater St Luke AME Church in Charleston.