Church responds to Black Lives Matter vandalism

Sometime over the weekend, a vandal attackedthe First Unitarian Church of Wilmington, destroying a Black Lives Matter banner displayed on church property.

According to NBC10, someone cut the word “black” from the sign, displayed along Concord Pike, in a move church officials say was deliberate. They believe the vandalism occurredlate Friday into early Saturday.

On Sunday, the church, a “largely white congregation,”issued a formal response, saying”this cowardly act will not prevent us from continuing to speak out about racial justice as a congregation and a religious movement.”

The church said it would have a rededication ceremony later this summer and invite community members to join in a discussion about race and justice.

It said the initial decision to erect the sign was to state its commitment to the Black Lives Matter movement and to spark a conversation about racism and violence directed at people of color.