Church Burned, Vandalized With “Vote Trump” – Americans Rally in a Big Way

"Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, atheists and many more"
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A historically black southern church became the latest victim of the 2016 election madness.

Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church was burned and vandalized Tuesday night with the phrase “Vote Trump” etched on the side of it.

In less than 24 hours of this happening to the Greenville based house of God, a GoFundMe page was launched, Huffington Post reported.

The financial goal set on Wednesday was $10,000, a cost that would cover the repairs. In less than 48 hours, the fundraiser creator, J. Blair Reeves Jr. has raised $156,852. The request also has been shared 17,000 times and people around the world have stepped in to help the predominantly black Baptist church that was hit by unknown criminals.

Fundraiser creator J. Blair Reeves Jr. spoke to Faithwire about his decision to raise the funds, even though he has had no previous or current affiliation to the church until he decided to step in and help.

First stating that, “I feel like any decent human being would want to reach out and help in some way after an attack like this.” And “this was just the thing I could do.”

Stating that, his inspirational action, is based on the unity showcased during the NC GOP field office torching and his roots as a southerner, with family both from Virginia and North Carolina.

“A bunch of folks on the internet got together and raised money to rebuild it,” he stated in reference to the Republican office.

“I did not give, because the NC GOP is… pretty awful. They’re literally
actively engaged in disenfranchisement and (the) suppression of black voters
right now.”

“So I saw this news yesterday, and maybe it was the cynicism from
this whole campaign season, but… I could totally see everyone shrugging
their shoulders and moving on, you know? And that would be real B.S.
Burning a church, particularly a black church in Mississippi, is an ugly,
vicious act that has a very clear historical context and meaning. Everyone
knows *exactly* what that meaning is,” Reeves told Faithwire.

Adding that, as a person so far away from his southern home of North Carolina, that this was his personal answer.

Right now “I’m in this big impersonal liberal northern city, right? And I feel pretty powerless. So the GoFundMe idea comes to mind. It’s the thing I
could do.”

The man that has raised thousands says, “I’ve never done a GFM before.” With this situation, the creator went on with this day at work, but said, when, “I came back later and – wowzers, it had just taken off.”

To encourage more interest, “I tweeted a bit more, went to more meetings, and it just sort of took on a life of its own.”

In response to the transcontinental reaction, he states that, it “completely blew up beyond all expectations.”

As of now, “given the damage to the church, it looks like they’ll need every penny.”

At the end of the day, “I wish the church hadn’t been attacked at all, but the response to the campaign has made me feel a little more hopeful that we’re not all as divided as we seem.”

In the page that opened earlier this week, the newly east coaster explained that “the animus of this election cycle combined with the potent racial history of burning black churches as a political symbol makes this event something we must not ignore.”

Reeves also expanded on his explanation to Faithwire on the page, saying that “Justice demands we do the same now” when comparing what happened with the historically black church and the GOP office two weeks ago.

As of Wednesday night, Reeves Jr. stated that, “responses have been pouring in from all over the world, and they’re truly extraordinary. Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, atheists and many more, from all over the United States and many other countries.”

People on both sides of the political aisle have spoken out on social media to encourage all people to help the historically black church.

(H/T Huffington Post)