White Man Burns Cross In His Backyard To "Scare Black Neighbors"!!

Added: 2026-05-06

[00:00:00]The Department of Justice says a federal grand jury has indicted 31-year-old Warden Butler on two counts accused of trying to intimidate his black neighbors. WCNC Charlotte's Richard Deain is live this morning in South Carolina. And Richard, this couple is now saying their fight for justice is not over.

[00:00:18]>> Yeah, that's correct, Lisa. They say it's not far from over. Basically, good morning to you. Good morning, Benny.

[00:00:24]Good morning Thursday to folks on the plus. Let me tell you about the the Williams. They bought this house as what would be a retirement home in Conway, South Carolina. They're here in in Charlotte, or I should say they're in Charlotte, North Carolina, but they bought that home as a way for some place to retire and also spend vacations. It was Thanksgiving of 2023 when their next door neighbor, after a number of incidents happened, escalated it and started burning a cross in his backyard.

[00:00:52]Now Shawn and Monica Williams say they're feeling a sense of relief this morning after a federal indictment in a disturbing cross burning case in South Carolina. A grand jury has indicted 31-year-old Warden Evander Butler on charges including interfering with housing rights and using fire to commit a felony of a federal felony.

[00:01:12]Investigators say that Butler burned a cross in his backyard in Conway in November of 2023 after posting online on Facebook about scaring his black neighbors and sharing images of their home. The Williams family says they lived in fear for months, but this indictment shows that the case is being taken seriously. Still, they say the fight isn't over, calling for South Carolina to pass a hate crime law to better protect families in the future.

[00:01:40]We are very grateful for law enforcement to actually uh get us to this point.

[00:01:50]>> Um because again uh the cross burning itself is just still so surreal to both Monica and I and our family.

[00:02:00]>> They say that until a hate crime law is passed that this other families could deal with the same thing here in South Carolina. just one of two states in the entire country, Wyoming being the other one, that do not have hate crime laws on the book. Now, as far as Butler, if convicted, he could serve a maximum of 10 years in federal prison.

[00:02:21]>> And there he is on the screen right there. Now, this Edward Scissor Hands Batwoods looking ninja, Warden Evander Butler, 31 years old. Peace and blessings. Peace and blessings. All praises to the most high. And this happened in Conway, South Carolina. Uh the cross burning actually took place in 20123.

[00:02:46]But yet here we are 3 years later and the federal government has finally giving him some federal charges, but they did not charge him with a federal hate crime. And we all know that the cross burning was a symbol of terror and intimidation and often the precursor of mass violence against black people. Now the clan would defend that saying, "Oh no, this is a representation of our ideals and purifying ideologies and uh represents the the Christ over darkness and the light over darkness. But if that was the case, then why did they use it right before they committed a lot of atrocities? But you heard the man and his wife talking. Uh they had actually uh they're actually from Charlotte and they bought the house down in Conway, South Carolina, which has a about 70% white population as a vacation or escape home. But they said that they constantly endured harassment from this neighbor culminating in that offense. Now, he was charged on the state level. He was charged on the state level. Uh I think he I got time served. But then because South Carolina doesn't have a hate crime law, ask yourself why. Uh they petitioned I guess they kept fighting to finally get him indicted on some federal charges. Albeit it's not a federal hate crime. Just take a listen to this article which gives a little more details about the specific indictment that they charged him with.

[00:04:20]>> First at 11, an Ory County man accused of burning a cross and pointing it toward his black neighbors during Thanksgiving weekend in 2023 now faces a twocount federal indictment. Thanks for joining us at 11. I'm Adriana Lawrence.

[00:04:34]Tonight, those neighbors are speaking out about the fear they felt. News3's Jordan Titus joins us now in studio. and Jordan. They say this case is about more than just that night, right, >> Adriana? Yeah. They told me that what happened that night is something they never imagined they'd experience in real life, especially with their entire family there. Now, they're hoping this federal case brings justice and sends a message. And and again it was, you know, shocking. Something that you would only in our time would only read about and either watched a movie or something of that nature, but not actually experiencing >> that moment. The Williams family says is something they'll never forget. During Thanksgiving 2023, they say they saw a burning cross outside their Ory County home while loved ones from across the country were visiting. Our entire family was there that night. My mother and father-in-law, you know, who are both in their 80s. I mean, they lived up north, but they have heard about those things happening. And for them to actually witness that along with our grandchildren, it was just absolutely um mind-boggling. Now, years later, federal prosecutors indicted Warden Butler, accusing him of using fire to threaten his neighbors and interfere with their rights. If convicted, Butler could face up to 10 years in prison.

[00:06:00]>> We were just shocked. Um, we've always kept it very prayerful and we've always tried to, you know, let the process happen and let justice take its course.

[00:06:14]The case drew widespread attention and renewed conversations about South Carolina's lack of hate crimes law. The Williams say while they're grateful for the progress, they are still working to heal.

[00:06:26]>> No one, regardless of their background, their race, their creed, their color, their religion, should have to experience any form of hate.

[00:06:35]>> They say what happened isn't just about their family, but about making sure something like this never happens again.

[00:06:42]We don't want to be harassed. You know that that's I just want peace of mind.

[00:06:47]>> This is not only justice for for me and my family, but justice for all.

[00:06:53]>> Butler was arrested in California and is expected to appear in federal court in Florence next month. The Williams family tells me they're hopeful this case will lead to accountability and lasting change across South Carolina. South Carolina and Wyoming are the only two states that lack statewide hate crime laws. Back to you. Thank you, Jordan.

[00:07:14]Butler previously plead guilty in January 2025 to state charges in the cross burning and received time served.

[00:07:22]His girlfriend, Alexis Hartnett, who was also living in the Corbett Drive home at the time, faces state charges in connection with the case. A judge barred the couple from being on the property.

[00:07:32]So now you have to ask yourself, what is wrong with Wyoming and South Carolina, the only two states in the United States without a state hate crime law? And just imagine you bringing your whole family down for Thanksgiving. Your 80year-old mother and father, grandchildren, you out there trying to have a great time, and this miserable piece of a human being decides to burn a cross, knowing what that represents. Now once again this man is an army veteran. You saw him he served his country uh faithfully fought for the ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But yet here we are in the year of 2026 and he cannot even obtain that in his own property. And if you look at the charges that they gave him, they said using fire uh to threaten uh someone and interfere with their rights. That is the charges.

[00:08:25]Now, although he may face 10 years, the charges seem like they hint towards a hate crime bill, but they just don't roll over. Once again, they said, "Well, he interfere with their rights." Which rights? Sounds like civil rights, right?

[00:08:44]So, if he's interfering with their civil rights on the basis of race, then this would constitute a hate crime. But once again, this is uh a loophole that you know, a lot of maybe he knows somebody down there in Conway, South Carolina.

[00:08:59]They arrested him in uh California. Uh maybe he was on the run or maybe he just you know uh had moved away. But this was a part of his ideology. Uh he even made a Facebook post about it talking about he was going to give his racist neighbors a scare, but it seems like he is the one who was filled with racism and hate. So uh hopefully he will get the maximum, but this just serves an example of us here in America uh that still has to do deal with uh latent and blatant racism no matter who we are, no matter where we go, no matter what we are trying to do. But y'all let me know what y'all think about this video in the comments. Y'all see the number 919-587772.

[00:09:46]Thank y'all for liking, watching, sharing, and subscribing to the channel.

[00:09:50]And as always, I pray you have peace and blessings. And as the scripture says, all things that are hidden shall be revealed, and those things done in secret shall be exposed on the mountain top. Let's go, Rich. Let's go. We watching Teller House Publishing.

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