Vandalism at D.C. churches denounced

WASHINGTON — Groups of people tore down a Black Lives Matter banner and sign from historic Black churches in downtown Washington and set one ablaze as nighttime clashes Saturday between supporters of President Donald Trump and counterdemonstrators broke out into violence and led to arrests.

Police on Sunday said they were investigating the incidents at Asbury United Methodist Church and Metropolitan A.M.E. Church as potential hate crimes, which one religious leader likened to a cross burning.

“This weekend, we saw forces of hate seeking to use destruction and intimidation to tear us apart,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Sunday. “We will not let that happen.”

A video posted on Twitter shows a group of men appearing to take down a Black Lives Matter banner at Metropolitan A.M.E. Church as others in the crowd shout, “Whose streets? Our streets.” Another video shows people pouring an accelerant on a Black Lives Matter banner and setting it ablaze in the street as others cheer and also curse antifa. Someone walks up about a minute later and uses a fire extinguisher to put out the flames.

“It pained me especially to see our name, Asbury, in flames,” the Rev. Dr. Ianther Mills, senior pastor at the church, said Sunday. “We will move forward, undaunted in our assurance that Black Lives Matter and we are obligated to continue to shout that truth without ceasing.”

The incidents occurred after rallies in support of Trump’s claims that he won a second term, which also led to dozens of arrests, several stabbings and injuries to eight police officers.

D.C police said they arrested nearly 30 people for a variety of offenses, including assault, weapons possession, resisting arrest and rioting. Four men were stabbed about 10 p.m. after a fight downtown, police said.