The First Baptist Church of Montgomery, AL, is part of a very important part of the history of this country.
It was very prominent during the civil rights movement here in the United States.
When the church was attacked by an arsonist, of course there were the usual cries of racism.
Who?
The arsonist was eventually caught.
Let’s just say the alleged firestarter was not who people thought.
Xiaoquin Yan, 27 of Auburn, AL, was eventually arrested for the crime.
Not only was outrage tempered after the arrest, but the judge gave her an out.
A local report stated that the judge ordered: “Yan should be evaluated and receive treatment, if necessary, for possible mental health concerns while incarcerated.”
A local NBC station also reported the details of the fire, “Lead Pastor Mark L. Bethea said someone entered the church during the overnight hours and set blazes inside the main sanctuary, in the historic Stakely Sanctuary and in some of the church’s office spaces.
“Bethea said the fires had varying degrees of success. The reception office was destroyed.
“At the foot of the cross in the sanctuary, the arsonist started a gasoline trail, making a winding walk up the center aisle.
“There were burn spots on the carpet of both sanctuaries and the flames destroyed some of the pews in the main sanctuary.”
The exact motive was not released.
