White Man Sentenced to 9 Years For Burning Down African-American Church: Was Angry About Obama Being Elected
A white man was sentenced today to nine years in prison for burning down a predominately African-American church in Springfield, Mass., the day after Barack Obama won the presidential election.
Benjamin Haskell, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor in Springfield for the 2008 burning of the Macedonia Church of God in Christ. The predominately African-American church was under construction and 75 percent complete when it was torched, the Justice Department said.
In addition to the prison term, Haskell must pay a $7,500 fine and $1.7 million in restitution, including $123,570.25 to the Macedonia Church.
“The burning of the Macedonia Church because of racial hatred and intolerance was a vicious attack on one of our most cherished freedoms — to worship in the religion of our choice safely and without fear of discrimination,” Carmen Ortiz, U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts, said in a statement.
To read more click here.
OTHER STORIES OF INTEREST

Posted: 11/1/10 at 7:42 PM under FBI, News Story.
Tags: african-american church burned, Barack Obama, benjamin haskell, Carmen Ortiz, church arson, hate crime, macedonia church of god in christ, massachusetts, michael jacques, springfield mass, thomas gleason, thomas gleason jr
Write a comment
You need to login to post comments!