Black Lives Matter Signs Burned at D.C. Churches; Police Investigate as Possible Hate Crimes

Black Lives Matter signs that apparently were burned and destroyed at historic Black churches in Washington, D.C., during a pro-Trump rally this weekend are being investigated as possible hate crimes, authorities said Sunday.

D.C. police said they were seeking information about the incidents, which occurred at Asbury United Methodist Church, founded in 1836, and Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, where Frederick Douglass’ funeral was held in 1895.

{snip}

In a statement, Asbury’s senior pastor, the Rev. Ianther Mills, said pro-Trump supporters removed a Black Lives Matter sign from the church and “literally burned it in the street.”

“It pained me especially to see our name, Asbury, in flames,” she said. “For me it was reminiscent of cross burnings.”

{snip}

{snip} A widely circulated clip on social media purported to show far-right protesters burning a Black Lives Matter sign a few blocks east of the White House.

{snip}

Yolanda Pierce, dean of the Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, called the alleged incidents “acts of both racial terror and religious violence.”

“Burning Black Lives Matter signs ripped from churches is an explicit threat to the sanctity of the Black church and to Black lives and freedom, even if the church itself is not historically Black,” she said.

{snip}

Several people were stabbed during Saturday’s event, as pro-Trump supporters fought with counterprotesters amid anti-coronavirus restriction protests and a rally held by Trump’s supporters.

{snip}