The son of a deputy sheriff in Louisiana has been charged in connection with the burning of three African-American churches in Louisiana over a two-week period. The accused, Holden Matthews, is apparently a fan of pagan and white supremacist internet sites, according to his Facebook page.
"The fires Matthews is apparently suspected of setting occurred at St. Mary Baptist Church, Greater Union Baptist Church, and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church on March 26, April 2, and April 4, respectively. Another “intentionally set” fire was also reported on April 7 at the predominantly white Vivian United Pentecostal Church a few hours away."Commenting on the arrest and the emboldening of white supremacists, NAACP President Derrick Johnson said,
“The spike in church burnings in the Southern states is a reflection of emboldened racial rhetoric and tension spreading across the country. But this is nothing new. For decades, African-American churches have served as the epicenter of survival and a symbol of hope for many in the African-American community. As a consequence, these houses of faith have historically been targets of violence.”It's a good day today in Louisiana.
