Eva M. Clayton: “there have been 32 suspicious fires at African-American churches across the United States since 1995. It is time for…”

“there have been 32 suspicious fires at African-American churches across the United States since 1995. It is time for Congress to stand up and speak out. Last Thursday, when the Matthews-Murkland Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC, became another one of the churches to be burned over the past 18 months, the shock and amazement of this deed left me dazed and numb. How could anyone violate what is most precious to our society? That is why I want to urge all of my colleagues to use this week to rise in swift and resounding voices to condemn this evil and to demonstrate that it will not be tolerated. First, we should all support the bipartisan legislation introduced by our colleagues, Mr. Conyers and Mr. Hyde. That legislation would make it easier to bring prosecutions and stiffen the penalties against those who target houses of worship. Second, I would urge support for a resolution I am introducing, calling on the collective outrage of Congress and condemning the arson. And, finally, we should all, work within our respective communities to help prevent future arson. There is a time to keep silence and a time to speak. Now is a time to speak.”