HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-26-1996 - V-A 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Action Agenda
Item No. 1/—A
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 26, 1996
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION DEPLORING THE BURNINGS OF BLACK CHURCHES
AND CALLING FOR COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY IN OPPOSING SUCH UNLAWFUL
ACTS
DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations PUBLIC HEARING: _Yes XX No
BUDGET AMENDMENT NEEDED
Yes XX No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
• Resolution Lucy Lewis, ext. 2251
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough- 732 -8181
Chapel Hill- 967-9251
Durham - 688-7331
Mebane- 227-2031
PURPOSE: To propose a Resolution deploring the burnings of black churches and calling for
community solidarity in opposing such unlawful acts.
BACKGROUND: In a report issued by the Center for Democratic Renewal in May, at least 57
attacks on Black or multi-racial churches, mainly in the South, are cited since 1990. In 1995 the
Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Orange County was burned in a fire that is still under Federal
investigation. In 1996 alone, more than 30 black churches have been burned or vandalized
throughout the South. In recent weeks, three of Durham's black churches were threatened and an
anonymous caller threatened to bomb the NAACP's State Conference in that city, bomb threats
have been called in to churches in Charlotte and Fair Bluff, and Charlotte's Matthews Murkland
Presbyterian Church was burned on June 6. On June 8, President Clinton met with 34 ministers of
churches which have been attacked and issued a statement denouncing these actions.
The Orange County Human Relations Commission(HRC)is charged with advising the Board of
County Commissioners with respect to matters relating to the Commission's purpose, including
seeking to prevent and eliminate bias and discrimination and anticipating and discovering those
practices and customs most likely to create animosity and unrest among citizen groups of Orange
County and seeking solution as these problems arise. At its June 10 meeting, the HRC
unanimously agreed to ask the Board of Commissioners to adopt a resolution deploring the
burnings of black churches, opposing racially-motivated violence, and issuing a calling for
community solidarity in opposing such unlawful acts.
RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the proposed
Resolution and authorize the Chair to sign.
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HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
RESOLUTION DEPLORING THE ATTACKS ON BLACK CHURCHES AND
CALLING FOR COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY IN OPPOSING SUCH UNLAWFUL
ACTS
WHEREAS,there have been a growing number of attacks on black churches in the South since
1990, including the burning of Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Orange County in 1995, and
WHEREAS, there have been more than 30 churches that have been attacked or vandalized in this
year alone,with threats on churches in neighboring Durham County and the burning of Matthews
Murkland Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, and
WHEREAS, these attacks on the most revered and stable institutions of the African American
community revive painful memories of church bombings during the Civil Rights Movement and
earlier, have a chilling effect on the African American members of our community, and attempt to
polarize residents of Orange County, and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Commissioners deplores such unlawful attacks and the
atmosphere that gives rise to racially motivated violence, and is committed to ensuring that all its
residents are free to live and worship without the threat of hate crimes, and
WHEREAS the Orange County Board of Commissioners desires to continue promoting a climate
in our community that finds such actions intolerable and that encourages mutual understanding
and acceptance among all its residents,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners deplores
the threats, vandalism and burning of black churches; opposes all forms of racially-motivated
violence; and calls for community solidarity in opposing such unlawful acts and for a renewed
commitment to mutual understanding and acceptance among all residents of Orange County.
This, the 26th day of June, 1996.
Moses Carey, Jr., Chair
P.O. BOX 8181 • HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA 919/732-8181