Richard Gephardt: “There is no more dastardly act than burning a place of worship, and the offense is even greater when racial hatred is…”

“There is no more dastardly act than burning a place of worship, and the offense is even greater when racial hatred is involved, as it is in many of these cases. It is very important tonight that all of us, Republican, Democrat, from every part of this country, with one voice say tonight that these acts are morally reprehensible and wrong and must end. I have no idea why these things are happening. I am sure none of the rest of us do. I assume racial hatred and hatred lies at the core of these acts. This had stopped and did not go on for years and years because there was a sense in this society that this was inappropriate behavior. Perhaps the dialog on some of our radio shows, or something, is making it possible for people to believe that we can act out our hatred by the violence that is represented in these acts. The President has spoken out, and now it is entirely necessary and appropriate that every Member of this body tonight say unequivocally to the people of our country that these acts must end.”