wfn.org | MAY 5 NEW YORK RALLY TO SUPPORT FIREBOMBED CHURCHES

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: Carol J. Fouke, NCC, 212-870-2252 (W) or 212-662-9999 (H)
Internet: carol_fouke.parti@ecunet.org

46NCC5/3/96

MAY 5 RALLY TO SUPPORT
FIREBOMBED BLACK CHURCHES IN THE SOUTH
SET FOR 7 P.M. AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,
ELMHURST, N.Y.

 A community rally in support of the firebombed
churches in the South will take place at 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 5, at First Baptist Church, 100-10
Astoria Boulevard, East Elmhurst, N.Y.

 The Rev. Dr. Mac Charles Jones, Associate for
Racial Justice, National Council of the Churches of
Christ in the U.S.A. (NCC), will be guest speaker.
Invitations have gone widely to Queens and Nassau
County congregations and to others in Greater New
York.

 From January 1990 through March 5, 1996, 45
African-American and interracial churches were
bombed, burned or defaced in Alabama, Tennessee,
Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana and other states,
confirmed the Center for Democratic Renewal (CDR),
which is conducting an independent investigation of
the firebombings.  Ten of those attacks occurred in
1996 alone, and the CDR is investigating six
additional incidents reported since March 5.

 The NCC is leading a broad effort to combat the
firebombings, including visits to firebombed
churches, spiritual support to pastors and
congregations, investigation of the firebombings,
efforts to win justice for victims and perpetrators
and raising of funds for rebuilding the churches.
The CDR, Atlanta, and the Center for Constitutional
Rights, New York, are partners in the effort.

 To get to First Baptist Church (phone 718-446-
0200) via subway, take the #7 train to 113th Street,
Queens, then take the Q23 bus to 31st Avenue and
101st Street.

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