Since the Charleston shoot-out that killed 9 people during a bible study in Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, a total of seven African-American churches were set on fire for the last two weeks.
The Guardian reported that Mount Zion AME Church in Greeleyville, South Carolina was set on fire for an unknown reason. Police are investigation the cause of the said church fire, since reports like lightning-stike and arson from nearby witnesses are still not proven.
South Carolina's chief of law enforcement division, Mark Keel, said investigators will figure out what may have caused the fire on Wednesday.
"We do know they apparently had some strong storms," Keel told The Guardian. "Talked to a guy who said they had a lot of lightning down there tonight. I don't know whether that had anything to do with it at all."
CCFD on scene mutual aide to Williamsburg County for working fire at Mt. Zion AME Church. Fire now under control. pic.twitter.com/Wt13RLGQDo
— Clarendon County FD (@clarendonfire) July 1, 2015
"That was a tough thing to see ... It is hurting those people again," said Eddie Woods Jr., Williamsburg County councilman. "But we're going to rebuild. If this was someone, they need to know that hate won't stop us again."
This is the second time the Mount Zion AME Church was burnt down, after the Ku Klux Klan members set the building on fire in 1995.
The most recent fire is the seventh African-American church that was set ablaze since 9 black people were shot dead inside a Charleston church on June17.
On June 22, officials are still deliberating the cause of the College Hill Seventh Day Adventist Church fire in Knoxville, Tennessee. The following day, June 23, investigators have traced the fire at God's Power Church of Christ in Macon, Georgia to arson.
On the third day, June 24, Briar Creek Road Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Fruitland Presbyterian Church in Gibson County, Tennessee were also burnt down.
Glover Grove Baptist Church in Warrenville, South Carolina, and Greater Miracle Apostolic Holiness Church in Tallahassee, Florida were also set on fire last week.
