Racial Slurs Found at Two Rural Churches in East Texas

The sign outside Center Hill Free Will Baptist Church just off Highway 154 in Nesbitt was spray painted with this racial slur. The same symbols were found on the church building. A similar slur was found on the side of Macedonia Baptist Church back in April. “It really hurts and its disappointing that you think you live in a town where people do not foster hatred and racism,” says Mrs. Charles W. Wilson, the President of the NAACP Chapter for Harrison County and Marshall, Texas region. Roxie White lives right next door to Center Hill Free Will Baptist Church. She says, “Ive been here all my life, I never witnessed anything like this, its scary and it puts you on guard and you get suspicious and thats bad.” Mildred Epps is a former member of Macedonia Baptist Church. “It really makes you upset, its scary also because you never know whose behind all this,” says Epps. Its uncertain whether these crimes were committed by a hate group and truly racially motivated. but leaders with the NAACP say, regardless of who committed these crimes. they cannot be ignored. Wilson says, “We cant hide the real thing we must discuss it and I hope were discouraged by that and it will go away, and if it grows we should contact the influential people, city leaders in our community.” The Harrison County Sheriffs Department is investigating both cases. We contacted them by phone and in person, but by the time this story aired they still had not returned our phone calls.