Arrest made in 'Vote Trump' burning of Mississippi black church

JACKSON, Miss. -- Mississippi authorities have arrested a man in the burning of an African-American church that was also spray-painted with the words, "Vote Trump."

Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesman Warren Strain says Andrew McClinton of Leland, Mississippi is charged with first degree arson of a place of worship.

McClinton was arrested Wednesday. Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Greenville, Mississippi, was burned and vandalized Nov. 1, a week before the presidential election.



It was not immediately clear whether McClinton is represented by an attorney.

Bishop Clarence Green of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church tells The Associated Press that McClinton is a member of the church.

Green says he did not know about the arrest until AP called him.

Fire Chief Ruben Brown told The Associated Press the sanctuary of Hopewell M.B Church sustained heavy damage in the fire, while the kitchen and pastor’s office received water and smoke damage.

The words “Vote Trump” were also spray-painted on an outside wall of the church.

Greenville is a Mississippi River port city of about 32,100 people, and about 78 percent of its residents are African-American.