The Fayette County Branch of NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) held a press conference Jan. 31 in Fayetteville to focus attention on two recent church shootings at Flat Rock A.M.E. Church in central Fayette and Bethlehem Baptist Church in Peachtree City. Gunshots struck the two churches while they were unoccupied. The FBI is investigating the mid-January shootings.

“The historic inauguration of President Obama was a very festive occasion that was marred by the awful news of the recent church shootings,” said Fayette Branch President John Jones. ”The timing of the attacks suggest that someone may be angry or upset about current events and historic changes occurring in America, but we also know that anyone regardless of race, creed or color could have used this occasion to send a message. It is essential for all people to know that the NAACP was started in the early 1900s by a coalition of white and black people in response to the frequent horrific terroristic attacks on Negro people.”

In attendance Jan. 31 was state Representative Virgil Fludd, Fayette County Commission Chair Jack Smith, Commissioner Robert Horgan, Fayette County Sheriff Wayne Hannah, Fayetteville Police Chief Steve Heaton, Fayette School System Assistant Superintendent Sam Sweat and Major Mike Dupree from the Peachtree City Police Department. About 30 other concerned citizens were also in attendance, Jones said in a prepared statement.

Sheriff Hannah reported that they have some evidence that is being examined by the GBI Crime Lab, Jones said. Chief Heaton emphasized the need for hate crime legislation and Rep. Fludd voiced his support of that idea. Commission Chair Jack Smith expressed outrage and asked citizens to be vigilant. Sweat reported that students have been asked to report any information they may have regarding these attacks.

Jones said this episode of targeted church shootings are viewed as deliberate acts of domestic terrorism and “an ungodly attack on everyone who passes through the doors of these historic African American churches.”

“We are hopeful that the news media will continue to be a vital part of the investigation by leaving no stone unturned as we seek the apprehension and prosecution of the person or persons responsible for these criminal acts,” Jones said. ”It is clearly recognized that anyone could have committed these terroristic acts and we are not making any assumptions or accusations prematurely.”