FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          CR
FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1995                                (202) 616-2765
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888



     TWO JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA MEN INDICTED FOR CROSS BURNING


     WASHINGTON, D.C. --  Two Jacksonville men were indicted by a
federal grand jury for allegedly burning a six-foot high wooden
cross in front of an auto body and repair shop that employed two
African-Americans, the Justice Department announced today.
     The four count indictment, returned April 27 in Jacksonville
and unsealed today, alleged that Stanley James Rich and Robert
Arthur Young violated federal civil rights laws by burning the
cross on April 19, 1992.  It alleged that Rich and Young burned
the cross in front of Auto Truck and Bus Service in Oceanway,
Florida, a predominantly white area within metropolitan
Jacksonville.  The indictment alleged that the cross burning was
intended to intimidate the African-American auto shop workers and
the auto shop owners who employed them. 
     "As long as the flames of race hatred burn, we will seek
justice at every turn," said Assistant Attorney General for Civil
Rights Deval L. Patrick.  "We will vigorously enforce the civil
rights laws of this land."
     Count one alleged that Rich and Young conspired to burn the
cross to interfere with the African-American auto shop employees'
right to work free from racial discrimination.  Count two alleged
that Rich and Young burned the cross to intimidate the African-American employees because of their race and their employment.
Count three alleged that the two burned the cross to intimidate
the business owners because they were affording African-Americans
the right to employment free of discrimination.  Count four
charges Rich and Young with the use of fire in the commission of
a felony.
     "We share the Civil Rights Division's commitment to
eradicate racial violence which interferes with fundamental
federal rights," said Charles R. Wilson, U.S. Attorney in Tampa. 
"We will continue to work closely with the Division in the
enforcement of the federal criminal civil rights laws."
     If convicted on all counts, the two will face up to 17 years
in prison and $450,000 in fines.
     The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation in Jacksonville.
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