IV

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 183

Condemning the recent rash of arson against African-American churches

across the United States, pledging to assist law enforcement authorities

in apprehending the persons responsible for such acts of arson, supporting bipartisan legislation which would facilitate the prosecution of

arsonists and create more severe penalties for arson against houses

of worship, and encouraging the people of the United States to work

in their communities to prevent future acts of arson against AfricanAmerican churches.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 11, 1996

Mrs. CLAYTON (for herself, Mr. BONIOR, Mr. RICHARDSON, Ms. DELAURO,

Mr. KING, Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. WARD, Mr.

FRAZER, Mr. FORD, Mr. BROWDER, Mr. NORWOOD, Mr. HILLIARD, Mr.

HINCHEY, Mr. OWENS, Mr. HALL of Ohio, Mr. FIELDS of Louisiana, Mr.

MEEHAN, Mr. FROST, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr.

LANTOS, Mr. DELLUMS, Mr. FRANKS of Connecticut, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr.

CLYBURN, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. FARR of California,

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mr. GILCHREST, Ms. NORTON, Ms. WOOLSEY,

Ms. FURSE, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. PALLONE, Mrs. THURMAN, Mrs. KENNELLY, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. CLAY, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. KAPTUR,

Mr. WATT of North Carolina, Mr. FOGLIETTA, Mr. THOMPSON, Mr. MILLER of California, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Ms. PELOSI, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. WYNN, Mr. EDWARDS, Mr. CLEMENT, Mrs. SCHROEDER, Miss

COLLINS of Michigan, Mr. RUSH, Mr. TORRICELLI, Mr. STOKES, Mr.

ROSE, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. HEFNER, Mr. TALENT, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr. FLAKE, Ms. PRYCE, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. BISHOP, Mr. FATTAH,

Ms. SLAUGHTER, Ms. RIVERS, Mr. NADLER, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ, Ms. WATERS, Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois, Mr.

STARK, and Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
2

•HCON 183 IH

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Condemning the recent rash of arson against African-American churches across the United States, pledging to assist

law enforcement authorities in apprehending the persons

responsible for such acts of arson, supporting bipartisan

legislation which would facilitate the prosecution of

arsonists and create more severe penalties for arson

against houses of worship, and encouraging the people

of the United States to work in their communities to

prevent future acts of arson against African-American

churches.

Whereas more than 30 African-American churches have

caught fire during the past 15 months under suspicious

circumstances;

Whereas officials at the Departments of Justice and the

Treasury believe that racial hostility was the driving force

behind many of such acts of arson;

Whereas 2 men with connections to the Christian Knights of

the Ku Klux Klan have been arrested in South Carolina

for 2 of the church burnings in that State;

Whereas President Clinton has initiated a four-step plan to

respond to the recent rash of arson against AfricanAmerican churches, including the creation of a task force

comprised of members of the Departments of Justice and

the Treasury and more than 200 law enforcement officials;

Whereas, on June 15, 1996, members of the congregation of

the Mount Zion AME church in Greeleyville, South Carolina will be joined by other members of the Greeleyville

community in marching from the site where the old

Mount Zion AME church was burned to the site of the
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•HCON 183 IH

newly rebuilt Mount Zion AME church, representing the

triumph of good over evil;

Whereas it is important for the Congress to speak out

against the recent incidents of arson against AfricanAmerican places of worship: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That the Congress—

3 (1) condemns the rash of arson against African4 American churches across the United States during the

5 past 18 months;

6 (2) pledges to take steps to assist law enforcement

7 authorities in apprehending the persons responsible for

8 these acts of arson;

9 (3) supports the bipartisan legislation introduced by

10 Representatives Conyers and Hyde, which would facilitate

11 the prosecution of the persons responsible for arson

12 against African-American churches and increase penalties

13 against arsonists who target houses of worship;

14 (4) encourages the people of the United States to

15 work within their own communities to prevent arson

16 against African-American houses of worship.

Æ