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, support-
ing 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.
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. KEN-
NELLY, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. CLAY, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. KAPTUR,
Mr. WATT of North Carolina, Mr. FOGLIETTA, Mr. THOMPSON, Mr. MIL-
LER of California, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Ms. PELOSI, Ms. ROYBAL-AL-
LARD, 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 Flor-
ida, Mr. FLAKE, Ms. PRYCE, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. BISHOP, Mr. FATTAH,
Ms. SLAUGHTER, Ms. RIVERS, Mr. NADLER, Mr. FRANK of Massachu-
setts, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Ms. WATERS, Mrs. COLLINS of Illinois, Mr.
STARK, and Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin) submitted the following concur-
rent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
•HCON 183 IH
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Condemning the recent rash of arson against African-Amer-
ican 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 African-
American 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 offi-
cials;
Whereas, on June 15, 1996, members of the congregation of
the Mount Zion AME church in Greeleyville, South Caro-
lina 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
•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 African-
American places of worship: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) condemns the rash of arson against African-
American churches across the United States during the
past 18 months;
(2) pledges to take steps to assist law enforcement
authorities in apprehending the persons responsible for
these acts of arson;
(3) supports the bipartisan legislation introduced by
Representatives Conyers and Hyde, which would facilitate
the prosecution of the persons responsible for arson
against African-American churches and increase penalties
against arsonists who target houses of worship;
(4) encourages the people of the United States to
work within their own communities to prevent arson
against African-American houses of worship.
Æ