DeSoto County lawmakers join bipartisan condemnation of Beth Israel arson
JACKSON, Miss. — A bipartisan coalition of Mississippi lawmakers, including a group from the DeSoto County delegation, issued a forceful rebuke this week following an arson attack that severely damaged the Beth Israel Congregation.
The Mississippi-Israel Legislative Caucus released a joint statement condemning the attack on the historic Jackson synagogue, labeling the incident an act of “festering” antisemitism.
DeSoto Legislators Take a Stand
The statement was signed by a wide range of DeSoto County’s legislative delegation, including Sen. Kevin Blackwell (R-Southaven), Sen. Michael McLendon (R-Hernando), and Sen. Theresa Gillespie-Isom (D-Olive Branch).
On the House side, Rep. Dan Eubanks (R-Walls) and Rep. Rodney Hall (R-Southaven) also joined the caucus in calling for a strong message against hate.
“Our bipartisan, bicameral caucus stands firmly with the Jewish Community,” the group stated. “We hope justice is both swift and strong to send a message that shameful behavior of this kind will not be tolerated in Mississippi.”
Caucus leadership emphasized that while the act was apparently performed by one individual, the state must loudly reject intolerance in all forms.
The Incident: A Historic Institution Under Fire
The arson occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Beth Israel Congregation, Mississippi’s oldest Jewish institution. The Jackson Fire Department responded to the blaze, which investigators determined was set intentionally.
The fire tore through the synagogue’s administrative offices and library, causing extensive structural damage. The building is currently unusable due to fire, smoke, and water damage, and many irreplaceable religious documents and library resources were damaged.
Arrest and Multi-Agency Investigation
Law enforcement acted quickly following the blaze. Authorities arrested 19-year-old Stephen Spencer Pittman in connection with the fire. Pittman was taken into custody after self-admitting to the University of Mississippi Medical Center with non-life-threatening burn injuries.
Pittman currently faces arson charges, though officials indicate additional charges may be pending. Because the target was a house of worship, the FBI and ATF are leading a multi-agency probe alongside the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
“Mississippi’s future will not be tainted by intolerance, not on our watch,” the Legislative Caucus concluded, urging all Mississippians to stand against such behavior.
The complete statement and list of signees is found here:
