Burning of African American Churches in Tennessee and Perceptions of Race Relations: Executive Summary of a Community Forum Held by the Tennessee Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights in Memphis, Tennessee on July 10, 1996

• NCJ Number: 165545
• Date Published: 1996
• Length: 21 pages
• Corporate Author: US Cmssn on Civil Rights
• Sale Source: US Cmssn on Civil Rights
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A community forum held in Memphis, Tenn. in July 1996 examined arson against black churches in South Carolina; discussed perceptions of race relations; and assessed the investigative procedures of Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials.

Abstract

Eight African American churches in Tennessee experienced arson between January 1995 and June 1996. In June 1996 the Tennessee Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights had just completed a study of racial tensions in the State and had concluded that they remain severely problematic. Tennessee has a Human Rights Act and a State Human Rights Commission. It also provides for penalty enhancement of crimes committed with a racial, religious, or ethnic motive; for institutional vandalism; and for interference with religious worship. The forum was attended by elected officials, Federal and local law enforcement officials, religious leaders, members of civil rights organizations, and community members. Participants discussed the motivation of perpetrators, investigative procedures, coordination and cooperation among law enforcement personnel at different levels of government, and the current status of race relations.