Faithwire
  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • SCOTUS
  • Life
  • Religious Liberty
  • News
  • Politics
  • Faith
  • Opinion

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

"Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, atheists and many more"
Share Tweet
By Stephanie Parker
Editor

November 3, 2016

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.

Hi y'all – I started a GoFundMe for the #HopewellBaptist church that was firebombed by Trump supporters. Help? ????https://t.co/S69aia81As

— Blair Reeves (@BlairReeves) November 2, 2016

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.

I’m supporting this fundraiser, please check it out: ‘Repair the Hopewell Baptist Church’ https://t.co/4Rhm7CFFWY

— Elle Beene (@elle_beene) November 2, 2016

Trump supporters helping
Repair the Hopewell Baptist Church
$77,000 already raisedhttps://t.co/0eeoPfF5Xn

— Judy Baldasaro- ?? (@JudyBaldasaro) November 2, 2016

(H/T Huffington Post)

Latest

  • News

    ‘In the Arms of Christ’: Pastor’s Daughter Among Children Killed During Christian School Shooting

  • Faith

    ‘Thank God He Was There’: Off-Duty Firefighter Says It Was the Lord Who Led Him to Save Deputy Hurt in Crash

  • News

    ‘Kind of a Miracle’: Storm Chaser Rescues Family After Tornado, Pledges to Help Rebuild Home After Terrifying Ordeal

  • News

    Amid ‘Hidden Dangers That Lurk’ in Culture, Christian Video Games Could Offer Parents a Powerful Solution

  • News

    All-American Swimmer Blasts ESPN for Promoting Transgender Athlete in ‘Celebrating Women’s History Month’


Sponsored
Sponsored

Newsletter
Signup

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • ‘In the Arms of Christ’: Pastor’s Daughter Among Children Killed During Christian School Shooting
  • ‘Thank God He Was There’: Off-Duty Firefighter Says It Was the Lord Who Led Him to Save Deputy Hurt in Crash
  • ‘Kind of a Miracle’: Storm Chaser Rescues Family After Tornado, Pledges to Help Rebuild Home After Terrifying Ordeal
  • Amid ‘Hidden Dangers That Lurk’ in Culture, Christian Video Games Could Offer Parents a Powerful Solution
  • All-American Swimmer Blasts ESPN for Promoting Transgender Athlete in ‘Celebrating Women’s History Month’

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016

Categories

  • Christian Persecution
  • Coronavirus
  • Culture
  • culture
  • Entertainment
  • Faith
  • Faith
  • Family
  • George Floyd
  • Go!
  • Israel
  • Life
  • Life
  • Lifestyle
  • Media
  • Men
  • Mission Haiti
  • News
  • News
  • Opinion
  • P.O.V
  • Politics
  • Politics
  • Roe
  • Sponsored
  • Sports
  • Virtue
  • Women

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Navigation

  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day.

Newsletter Signup

Do you want to read
more articles like this?