ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, July 3, 1996 TAG: 9607030048
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: ROBERT LITTLE STAFF WRITER
NOTE: Below
Calling the recent rash of church arsons nothing less than "a very great social crisis," Southern law enforcement and church officials gathered on the campus of one of the nation's most prominent black universities Tuesday to search for solutions.
Billed as a "summit" at Howard University School of Divinity, the all-day conference produced a few tangible ideas. Virginia Attorney General Jim Gilmore announced, for instance, a new toll-free telephone number to collect tips in solving the 40 or more arson fires reported at black churches in the last 18 months.
But participants acknowledge the summit's intention was also to spread the group's message of zero tolerance for such crimes.
"We need to look and see if there are conspiracies. We need to look for motives, and we need to look for the atmosphere of hatred that could be behind this," said Gilmore, who organized the conference. "We are going to deny a comfort zone of any kind to hatred and racism across the South."
In Washington, President Clinton designated $6 million Tuesday to fight church burnings in a dozen states, including Virginia, and pledged as much more money and manpower as needed ``to make sure the struggle is won.''
He asked Congress to give quick approval for the money, which would be an emergency transfer of Justice Department funds.
The arrangement would be flexible enough to allow police to ``patrol the back roads, to visit the churches, to keep watch for signs of trouble,'' Clinton said. Police also could use the money to install flood lights, hire private security guards or pay overtime to current officers.
It would go to communities in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Clinton also said he would sign a bill, approved by Congress last week, that would double the maximum prison term for church attacks to 20 years. And he issued a proclamation declaring July a ``national month of unity'' during which religious leaders of all faiths should stress healing and tolerance from their pulpits.
Gilmore, as chairman of an association of Southern attorneys general, has been a conspicuous figure in efforts to prevent and solve the fires. Another prominent Virginian - Christian Coalition director Ralph Reed - also has been in the forefront. Dozens of news organizations covered Tuesday's event, including several national media outlets.
The university and church leaders assembled Tuesday scolded blacks who have been reluctant to embrace the effort.
"We have some very evil forces out there that have penetrated the hearts of our young people," said Rev. Anthony Paige, pastor of Norfolk's First Baptist Church Lamberts Point.
"There are some who may see this as political; but if you're hungry, anyone who puts food on your table is welcome. Right now, Attorney General Gilmore and these others and, yes, the Christian Coalition, are the only ones doing anything. And we welcome it."
The attorneys general at Tuesday's conference said they hoped the meetings mark a resurgence of sorts in their jobs' traditional law enforcement roles. Several said most of their time is spent defending their states against civil lawsuits, and that fewer and fewer resources are spent battling crime.
"The fact is, as attorneys general we have a responsibility to enforce all laws, in a fair, just and equal manner," said Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger.
Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson compared the fires to last year's Oklahoma City bombing.
"We have a particular perspective in Oklahoma of how devastating acts of domestic terrorism can be," he said. "I hope now we see attorneys general more involved in fighting those types of problems."
Suspicious fires in Virginia include the First Baptist Church of Centralia auxiliary building in Chesterfield County and the Glorious Church of God in Christ in Richmond.
Over the weekend, three white teen-agers were arrested in the Chesterfield County fire and investigators ruled out race as a motive.
The toll-free hot line set up for tips on the church fires is being paid for by Bell Atlantic and GTE. The number, (888) 855-5000, can be reached from anywhere in Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
LENGTH: Medium: 84 linesby CNB