They were modest brick buildings, without soaring Gothic spires, elaborate rosette windows or roofs carved of 12th century timber.
But the three houses of worship that burned down over the last month in a rural part of south Louisiana were longtime pillars of their African American congregations. To those who prayed there, they were no less sacred than the historic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Not that many other people saw it that way. On Sunday, a crowdfunding site for the three humble churches had pledges totaling just under $50,000.
Then on Monday, after flames consumed the roof and spire of the 800-year-old Gothic French landmark and people across the world vowed to rebuild it, calls rang out for solidarity with Louisiana.
“The rebuild of Notre Dame will be well funded,” journalist Yashar Ali said on Twitter as he promoted the fundraiser. “In the past month, three historically black churches in Louisiana were destroyed by a racist arsonist. He has been charged with hate crimes, but these churches need your help.”
By late Wednesday, the fund was nearing its goal of $1.8 million.
While the Notre Dame fire is thought to be accidental, Louisiana officials say the three black Louisiana churches were deliberately set ablaze. St. Landry Parish officials have arrested and charged Holden Matthews, the 21-year-old son of a deputy sheriff, with setting the fires that devastated three churches — St. Mary Baptist Church, Greater Union Baptist Church and Mount Pleasant Baptist Church — in the parish over 10 days in March and April.
Earlier this week, local prosecutors also charged Holden, who is white, with hate crimes for allegedly having a racial motive.
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