Los Angeles Times

LZ Granderson: From 1990s to this week, racial violence against Black Americans goes largely unanswered

I graduated from college in 1996. That year, President Bill Clinton signed an anti-church-burning bill into law. Between the time I received my high school diploma and my bachelor's degree, more than 40 predominantly Black churches had been burned in the South alone. Not in 1966. In 1996. A tough pill to swallow for the "that was a long time ago" crowd. Tom Royals was the defense attorney for ...
Demonstrators participate in a march against white supremacy on Aug. 28, 2023, in Jacksonville, Florida.

I graduated from college in 1996.

That year, President Bill Clinton signed an anti-church-burning bill into law. Between the time I received my high school diploma and my bachelor's degree, more than 40 predominantly Black churches had been burned in the South alone.

Not in 1966. In 1996. A tough pill to swallow for the "that was a long time ago" crowd.

Tom Royals was the defense attorney for one of three young white males convicted of "burn, n—, burn" as they sped away. Royals, who had lived in the state since the 1950s, described the arson as "irrational" and the arsonists as "young, drunk and crazy."

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