TORONTO – After another church with a predominantly black congregation caught fire in the southern U.S., investigators are trying to determine who or what is behind the cause.
A spate of fires has seen seven historically black churches burned over the last two weeks, with the latest being the Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church destroyed by a fire Tuesday evening.
READ MORE: Fire breaks out at South Carolina church previously burned down by KKK
The church in Greeleyville, S.C., is roughly 80 km north of Charleston, where nine people were murdered at the Emanuel AME church when a gunman allegedly opened fire on the victims because of the colour of their skin. Suspected shooter Dylann Roof has been charged with nine counts of murder and federal authorities are investigating the massacre as a possible hate crime.
Following the string of fires, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) issued a statement “alerting black churches to take necessary precautions.”
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The Associated Press, citing an unnamed source with the FBI, reported the Mount Zion fire is not believed to be arson and could be related to lightning strikes in the area.
But investigators told reporters during a press conference Wednesday morning they were not ruling anything out as they continue their investigation. In 1995, the same African-American church was burned to the ground by two members of the Ku Klux Klan, part of a series black churches being targeted over a two-year span.
While the Mount Zion fire appears unintentional, investigators have said at least three of the fires over the past two weeks were clear cases of arson.
READ MORE: Federal officials investigate recent fires at black churches
The fires at the churches has evoked painful memories for communities across the southern U.S. and come in the wake of debate over the removal of the Confederate flag — a symbol of racial oppression to some, but a reminder of Southern pride to others.
Concern over the fires has led to more than 180,000 tweets with the hashtag #WhoIsBurningBlackChurches, according to Topsy – a social search and analytics company.
The Southern Poverty Law Centre reports similar fires have occurred in Knoxville, Tenn., on June 21; Macon, Ga., and Gibson County, in Tennessee, on June 23; Charlotte, N.C., on June 24; and Tallahassee, Fla., and Warrenville, S.C., on June 26.
As the fires continue to be investigated a chapter of the Ku Klux Klan is planning to hold a rally on July 18 on the grounds of South Carolina’s state capitol to protest the removal of the Confederate flag.
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Local newspaper the Post and Courier reports that the Loyal White Knights, a chapter of the KKK based in Pelham, N.C., had their application to hold a rally on the State House grounds in Columbia approved.
Attempts to reach the Loyal White Knights for comment were unsuccessful. A recording at a phone number for the group be heard confirmed members are planning to stand up for “Confederate history.”
“Our government is trying to erase white culture and our heritage right out of the pages of history books,” the recording said. “If you’re tired of all the Liberal nonsense that is being spewed out by your leaders and government then please stand with us on July 18. If you’re white and proud, join the crowd.”
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