Fundraising for three burned-down black churches in Louisiana skyrockets past 1.45MILLION

A fundraiser for the three black churches that were burned down in Louisiana by an arsonist earlier this month has raked in more than $1.45million.

The ‘Seventh District Baptist Church Fires St Landry’ page saw donations soar in the wake of the tragic Notre Dame fire on Monday, after many noticed a stark difference in the president’s response to the fires.

Donald Trump was quick to offer assistance to Paris after the damage to its famous cathedral, but was silent after three black churches in Louisiana were burned down by 21-year-old Holden Matthews.

By Wednesday afternoon, the churches’ GoFundPage had reached more than $1.45 million with thousands of dollars rolling in by the minute.

‘Thanks for rallying the GoFundMe community, @yashar,’ attributing journalist Yashar Ali, whose sharing of the page garnered more than 28,000 retweets and more than 50,000 likes. ‘Our team is thrilled to support this meaningful cause.’

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‘Thanks for rallying the GoFundMe community, @yashar,’ attributing journalist Yashar Ali, whose sharing of the page garnered more than 28,000 retweets and more than 50,000 likes. ‘Our team is thrilled to support this meaningful cause’

The GoFundMe is steadily increasing and gaining thousands every couple of minutes. 

Pastor Gerald Toussaint of the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas – one of the three churches that was burned – posted a video thanking everyone for their massive support

Pastor Gerald Toussaint of the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas – one of the three churches that was burned – posted a video thanking everyone for their massive support. 

‘I can’t thank you enough, he said. ‘If I had 10,000 tongues, I couldn’t thank you enough. God bless you.’ 

The GoFundMe grew in popularity after people voiced their frustration that Donald Trump and Mike Pence were supportive of Notre Dame.   

‘The host of this campaign is the Seventh District Baptist Association, a 149 year old non-profit religious organization,’ the page states. 

‘We are working with the Governor of Louisiana, local leaders, elected officials, the impacted churches and their pastors, other faith organizations and the community to ensure 100% of all funds raised will be evenly distributed to the three churches affected.’ 

The fundraiser was created on April 10, the same day 21-year-old Holden Matthews was arrested for the attacks that occurred over a 10-day period in Opelousas, Louisiana. 

The GoFundMe is steadily increasing and gaining thousands every couple of minutes. It has a goal of $1.8million 

The fundraiser was created on April 10, the same day Holden Matthews was arrested for the attacks that occurred over a 10-day period in Opelousas, Louisiana

The first blaze at the St. Mary Baptist Church occurred on March 26 in Port Barre, a town just outside of Opelousas. 

Days later, the Greater Union Baptist Church and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas were burned. Each was more than 100 years old. 

Trump released a statement – via the White House – on Tuesday, invoking 9/11 and stating that the cathedral’s bells would ring again. 

‘France is the oldest ally of the United States, and we remember with grateful hearts the tolling of Notre Dame’s bells on September 12, 2001, in solemn recognition of the tragic September 11th attacks on American soil. Those bells will sound again,’ the White House said.

While the GoFundMe had been up for a few days, users noted how quiet President Donald Trump had been on the attacks while he has been rather forthcoming about his help for rebuilding Notre Dame

Neither Trump or Pence have commented on the black churches that were burned down allegedly by Holden. They have been forthcoming about their help to Notre Dame

The statement asserted that the United States would offer ‘assistance in the rehabilitation of this irreplaceable symbol of Western civilization.’ 

On Twitter, Mike Pence offered his words of support to Paris and said: ‘Notre Dame is an iconic symbol of faith to people all over the world – and it is heartbreaking to see a house of God in flames. Our thoughts and prayers are with the firefighters on the scene and all the people of Paris.’

Neither have commented on the black churches that were burned down allegedly by Holden. 

‘The rebuild of Notre Dame will be well funded,’ said journalist Yashar Ali. ‘In the past month, three historically black churches in Louisiana were destroyed by a racist arsonist. He has been charged with hate crimes, but these churches need your help. Please join me in donating.’

‘If your TL is full today of Notre Dame burning down, but you heard nothing of the Black churches in Louisiana being burned this month, I hope you’ll reflect on how epistemological violence works,’ another user added. ‘Privileged stories hold privileged pain–while erasing the pain of the oppressed.’

‘The rebuild of Notre Dame will be well funded,’ said journalist Yashar Ali. ‘In the past month, three historically black churches in Louisiana were destroyed by a racist arsonist. He has been charged with hate crimes, but these churches need your help. Please join me in donating’

Writer and activist George Johnson asserted: ‘Congress both current and former have been more vocal about Notre Dame Cathedral than the white supremacist son of a cop that burned down 3 Black churches.’

‘Mike Pence immediately tweeted about the Notre-Dame Cathedral fire,’ said user Denizcan James. ‘I don’t remember Pence ever mentioning the three historically black churches that were burnt down by a white supremacist/domestic terrorist. Speaks volumes.’

Bishop Talbert Swan said: ;This obtuse, gaslighting, doltish, nazi defending , white supremacist, poltroon is tweeting about the #NotreDameCathedralFire, yet has said nothing about a white supremacist burning down 3 Black churches in Louisiana.’ 

‘The GOPers tweeting their “sadness” about the tragic fire in the Notre Dame Cathedral never once mentioned their sadness about the 3 historically black churches being burnt down by a White Supremacist who is also the son of a sheriff,’ Ricky Davila.

Holden Matthews, who had no previous criminal record, was arrested Wednesday on three charges of arson of a religious building.

Prosecutors filed documents Monday adding three more charges, accusing Matthews of violating Louisiana’s hate crime law.