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Black Churches Set On Fire in Tennessee
(Gary Tanner, The Associated Press, 09 July 2005)
Seven arson fires broke out yesterday in a neighborhood in this small Middle Tennessee town, inflicting heavy damage on two black churches and burning five vacant houses, authorities said. . . . The churches that burned were on the same street. As firefighters arrived to fight one fire, Selby said, "They looked down the street, and the other church was fully involved." . . . The FBI, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and White County Sheriff's Department are investigating. The FBI was called in because federal law covers church arson. Authorities have interviewed 17 people, and two of those interviews were conducted at the White County Jail, but Selby said there are no suspects yet. . . . Roberts Street Church of Christ was destroyed while Kynette United Methodist Church was heavily damaged. Both served black congregations, Mayor Tom Pedigo said. . . . About 5% of Sparta's 5,000 residents are black, according to census figures. . . . "It was a hurtful feeling, an empty feeling in my stomach. I've spent many a year in there," Leftwich said. . . . Between 30 and 40 people are members at Kynette UMC, which was established in the 1880s and rebuilt as a brick structure in 1960. Yesterday, the exterior was stained by smoke and the roof was sagging where the fire burned through. . . . "The interior is just about ruined, the musical instruments are ruined and the basement is ruined," church member Tommy Glenn said. . . . At the end of the meeting, the residents held hands for a prayer by the Rev. Ever Mudambanuki of Kynette UMC. . . . "This is the devil's work. We have forgiven them, but we want them to be caught," she said.

posted by LoZo 7:00 PM