The United Auto Workers Donate $25,000 to Rebuild Burned Churches

06/27/96

For Release: Immediate, Wednesday, June 19, 1996

UAW President Yokich Announces $25,000 Donation To Assist in Church Rebuilding

The UAW will make a donation of $25,000 to assist in efforts in rebuilding black churches that have been burned under suspicious circumstances.

In announcing the donation, UAW President Stephen P. Yokich said, "The UAW is deeply concerned over this epidemic of attacks on African American churches."

"Every American should be bothered by these attacks," Yokich added "because they strike not just at the churches and their congregations but also at freedom of religion, which is one of our core values.

"Beyond that, these terrorist activities are part of a disturbing political trend towards greater separation and polarization between people of different colors, ethnic backgrounds and national origins," Yokich said.

"In making this donation, the UAW is taking a firm stand against those who would divide the American people, and we call on all people of faith and good will to take action to reject hate-mongers of all types."

The UAW president also praised the Clinton Administration for intensified efforts to investigate the fires that have so far destroyed about 30 predominantly black churches in the South and Southwest since 1995. In addition, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, there have also been a rash of fires and vandalism at mostly white churches or synagogues in the same period.

"It should be noted that the Clinton Administration has increased federal involvement in nationwide efforts to end these terrible attacks on places of worship," Yokich stated.

The UAW president also expressed the Union's support for the Church Arson Prevention Act, which will strengthen the ability of federal authorities to prosecute church burnings.

"We hope that congressional passage of this legislation sends a strong and clear message that church burnings will not be tolerated in America and that the perpetrators of these violent and mean acts must be swiftly apprehended by the combined forces of federal, state and local government."