WASHINGTON (AP) – The demolition of four downtown and Washington Washington churches after a rally in support of President Donald Trump is erupting in people of this faith as the nation faces post-election political divisions.
Two historically damaged houses of worship were historically Black Churches where people pampered banners of Black Lives Matter, with a banner burned along with a video posted on social media. That defamation – which is being investigated Possible hate crimes, according to police – raised questions between some pastors and church people as to whether more fellow Christians would not speak out against these incidents.
Rev. Dr. Enther Mills, a senior pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church, released a statement on Sunday comparing the burning banner to a cross-burning and said Monday that he hopes more Christians will condemn the destruction.
Mills also stressed that she “does not want to bring this up in a political statement” and said her goal is to “move us all to a better and more committed commitment to building a beloved community where everyone is welcome.” The church plans a Thursday prayer service to promote unity and healing, he said.
Pastor Donna Kleckomb Sokol said the nearby Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church reported that the banner was printed in color in support of LGBTQ rights and denounced “acts of hatred or violence” against others.
She added that the episode in her church was “insignificant compared to what happened to our neighbors” and urged that as historically black organizations, Asbury and the Metropolitan AME Church, pay attention to the damage done.
“People need to condemn it and call it an act of racial violence,” Clecomb Sokol said. “People who were really quick to remain silent need to wrestle with what really happened on our streets on Saturday, and how silence can really be a sign of spontaneity.”
There were pro-Trump demonstrations in the capital after signs of the Black Lives Matter erupted, with a neo-fascist group at risk of a violent encounter attracting a large number of proud boys. The opposition planned to strengthen the president’s claims of election irregularities, although widespread election fraud has been confirmed by a series of officials across the country, including Attorney General William Barr.
Police in Washington are asking for people’s help The FBI and Washington Washington field office fees also reward investigators.
Some members of the affected church have noted the difference between a vocal Christian response to the destruction of property during a protest against racial injustice this summer and the now relatively quiet pushback.
“Evangelical can speak on behalf of unborn children, white people and white property can speak on behalf of law and order, but silence comes when banners announcing ‘Black Life Matter’ come. , ”Said Cornell William Brooks, former president of NAACP and a member of the Metropolitan AME.
“To say ‘black lives matter’, we have stopped saying ‘black churches matter’,” added Brooks, a professor in the graduate program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School. ‘
And Episcopal Bishop of Washington Washington, who criticized Protesters were forced to clean up after Trump’s summer racial inequality protests The fire damaged the church on Monday, according to a statement issued by the dean of Washington National Cathedral on the recent church vandalism, as well as a statement with “drains about racist and religious influence surrounding attempts to discredit the presidential election.” At a pro-Trump rally on Saturday, many religious activists were cited as headlines.
Some pro-Trump evangelicals criticized the church’s demolition, describing it as part of a broader trend that has made the year of political tensions more worrying.
Johnny Moore, chairman of the Christian Congress Christian Leaders and Evangelical Adviser to the administration, said: “We must put the extremists on the far right and on the left that these acts are now stopped.”
“Whether it’s a synagogue at a Catholic temple in Portland, Los Angeles or Kenosha, Southern California, or especially historically – especially black – churches in Washington D.C. – America’s places of worship should never be targeted by violent extremists. , ”Moore said via email.
The evangelical leader who advised Trump, the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez said in a statement: “There is a stark contrast between the movement of virtue and justice, the movement of truth and love, and the movement of chaos. Pooja “This is a clear, unambiguous depiction of the true agenda behind many so-called ‘movements’.”
While stopping short of fully acknowledging Trump’s election defeat, many top evangelical rhetoricians had to stay away from this. Echoes of harsh rhetoric directed at President-elect Joe Biden during the hard-fought campaign echoed.
“President Trump condemns all forms of violence and any group that spreads hatred and bigotry,” White House spokesman Jude Deere said via email.
Biden-Harris transition officer Cameron French said in a statement that places of worship are sacred and protected under the law and “targeting these places because of their views is unacceptable and undermines our work to create a more complete union.” ”
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