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Federal authorities participated in the investigation into a series of fires that ravaged three historically black churches in southern Louisiana in just ten days' time.
The fires began on March 26 in the parish of St. Landry, Louisiana, a rural community north of Lafayette. The officials did not determine the cause of the fires, but stated that they were not able to rule out the possibility of arson or that all three incidents were related.
"It is clear that something is happening in this community," Fire Marshall H. Browning said in a statement released on Thursday. "That's why it's imperative that the citizens of this community participate in our efforts to understand what it is."
The fires caused extensive damage to the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church and to the Greater Union Baptist Church, in the city of Opelousas, and to the Baptist Church St. Mary of Port Barre. No deaths or injuries were reported in any of the fires.
Meanwhile, officials said a fourth fire was "intentionally unleashed" on March 31 at the Vivian United Pentecostal Church, a predominantly white church located about three hours north of Caddo Parish. .
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is currently investigating fires, just like the FBI. Until now, officials have not yet connected the four fires, identified a suspect or determined his mobile.
The narrow window in which the fires took place raised fears that racial motivation was at stake. The fires also rekindled painful memories of the violence that often targeted the black churches of the South during reconstruction and at the time of the war. era of civil rights. This violence has continued in recent years with incidents such as the 2015 shooting at the Emmanuel AME Baptist Church in Charleston, S.C., when a white supremacist shot dead nine people.
For members such as Florence Milburn, a member of the Great Union Baptist Church, the fires were devastating.
Milburn said he learned Thursday about the Great Union fire.
"When I was notified at 2:30 am, I was standing and I was there," Milburn told NPR. "My husband and I drove there with the other members of our family and, with our religious family, we were there and watched our church burn completely."
The congregation of the Greater Union Baptist Church was preparing to celebrate the 130th anniversary of its construction in July. "It's my family's church. My family has been in this church for over 100 years, it goes back to my great-grandparents, so when I heard about the fire, I was devastated. And I'm always worried. I'm still hurt, "said Milburn.
Like other members of the community, Milburn said that there was "something irregular, unusual" in the fires. "Something that should not have happened."
"Why did they do it, what motive we're lost in. So, whether we're told or not who did it, or why they did it, that does not bring back our church, and all the memories we had, "says Milburn. "It's like losing a family member or a family home."
Milburn said that Sunday morning, the faithful will gather in a building that has been temporarily loaned to them for worship. Reconstruction plans have already begun, she said.
"We must rebuild the church of God."
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