THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: Tuesday, July 16, 1996 TAG: 9607160009 SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL TYPE: Letter LENGTH: 31 lines
Recent articles on arson of churches across the Southeast have presented a clear picture of the fires, but are they acts of arson, as reported, or are they acts of terrorism directed at churches?
The article ``Recent church burnings may break downward trend'' (June 23) reported the facts on incendiary or suspicious fires involving churches, according to the National Fire Protection Association for 1980 and 1994. This showed almost a two-thirds drop in recorded church fires and projected that if the current rash of church fires continues, we will see a marked increase.
The article ``Churchgoers keep faith despite continued arson'' (June 23) reported on the two church fires in Tennessee on Jan. 13 that were only 18 miles apart. Both churches had black congregations. These fires preceded the rash of fires that continues, with more than three dozen fires in black churches across the Southeast.
These acts of terrorism have affected churchgoers across the nation and caused them to fear for places of worship. Due to the use of force and the associated fear, these acts are true terrorism. The terrorists will escalate their acts to keep the press and nation focused on them.
The people responsible should be hunted as were terrorists involved in the World Trade Center bombing. Let's not wait until this terrorism results in the deaths of members of a congregation.
WILLIAM K. STEVENSON
Chesapeake, July 1, 1996 by CNB