Downtown DC

Protesters Ripped, Set Fire to BLM Signs at DC Churches, Organizers Respond

The incidents are being investigated as potential hate crimes, D.C.'s Chief of Police said Monday

NBC Universal, Inc. During Saturday’s rallies in support of President Trump, a Black Lives Matter sign was destroyed. The incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime, according to police. Darcy Spencer reports for News4 on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020.

Black Lives Matter D.C. condemned vandalism to several downtown churches that took place during Saturday night's protests, claiming D.C. police officers "physically protected white supremacists, as they threatened lives, damaged historic churches and destroyed and burned property."

Black Lives Matter organizers and one of the churches claim the damage was done by members of the Proud Boys and by supporters of President Donald Trump.

Footage of the incidents obtained by News4 appear to show demonstrators setting fire to a BLM sign at Asbury United Methodist Church and tearing a sign off the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal, then ripping it in half.

D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham said at a press conference Monday that at least four D.C. churches had property destroyed on Saturday. The churches include:

  • Metropolitan A.M.E. Church
  • Mt. Vernon Place United Methodist Church
  • Asbury United Methodist Church
  • Luther Place Memorial Church

“Preliminarily, we’re investigating these as potential hate crimes,” said Newsham.

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Newsham said that while Saturday night involved conflict between "mutual combatants," there were "large numbers of folks who self-identified as Proud Boys" and "smaller numbers, in my estimation, of folks who I would describe as anti-Trump groups."

During Saturday's rallies in support of President Trump, a Black Lives Matter sign was destroyed. The incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime, according to police. Darcy Spencer reports for News4 on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020.

He further specified that the ratio of Trump supporters to counterprotesters was about 6:1 or 7:1.

MPD detectives are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying suspects in the incidents.

"Last night demonstrators who were part of the MAGA gatherings tore down our Black Lives Matter sign and literally burned it in the street," Rev. Dr. Ianther M. Mills, Senior Pastor of the Asbury United Methodist Church wrote in a statement.

"Seeing this act on video made me both indignant and determined to fight the evil that has reared its ugly head," Rev. Mills wrote. "We had been so confident that no one would ever vandalize the church, but it has happened."

"MPD allowed Proud Boys to physically attack D.C. residents who stood against white supremacy," said April Goggans, a core organizer with Black Lives Matter DC.

Black Lives Matter D.C. leaders held a news conference Sunday at Black Lives Matter Plaza in downtown D.C. to call on D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to protect District residents from "Trump supporters and white supremacists" and to hold the police "accountable for enabling white supremacist violence."

“D.C.’s faith-based organizations are at the very heart of our community, giving us hope in the face of darkness," Bowser wrote in a statement Sunday.

"An attack on them is an attack on all of us," she wrote. "The Mayor’s Office of Religious Affairs and the Metropolitan Police Department are engaging the impacted houses of worship today, and anyone with information or video in the area of the houses of worship should call 202-727-9099 or text 50411.”

The vandalism happened amid clashes between supporters of President Donald Trump and counterprotesters Saturday night. Earlier in the day, Trump supporters rallied in the District.

Tensions rose Saturday evening as widespread but sporadic clashes broke out downtown.

In other incidents during Saturday night's clashes, nine people were injured -- including four who were stabbed -- and at least 33 arrests were made during a volatile night of clashes between supporters of President Donald Trump and counterprotesters in Washington, D.C.

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WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 12: People gather in support of President Donald Trump and in protest the outcome of the 2020 presidential election at freedom plaza on December 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters who refuse to accept that President-elect Joe Biden won the election are rallying ahead of the electoral college vote to make Trump’s 306-to-232 loss official. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images
Supporters of US President Donald Trump participate in the Million MAGA March to protest the outcome of the 2020 presidential election in front of the US Supreme Court on December 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)
JOSE LUIS MAGANA/AFP via Getty Images
Supporters of US President Donald Trump march on Pennsylvania Avenue to protest the outcome of the 2020 presidential election on December 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jose Luis Magana / AFP) (Photo by JOSE LUIS MAGANA/AFP via Getty Images)
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 12: People gather in support of President Donald Trump and in protest the outcome of the 2020 presidential election at freedom plaza on December 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters who refuse to accept that President-elect Joe Biden won the election are rallying ahead of the electoral college vote to make Trump’s 306-to-232 loss official. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 12: Former General Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump’s recently pardoned national security adviser, speaks during a protest of the outcome of the 2020 presidential election outside the Supreme Court on December 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters who refuse to accept that President-elect Joe Biden won the election are rallying ahead of the electoral college vote to make Trump’s 306-to-232 loss official. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
JOSE LUIS MAGANA/AFP via Getty Images
Supporters of US President Donald Trump rally at Freedom Plaza to protest the outcome of the 2020 presidential election on December 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jose Luis Magana / AFP) (Photo by JOSE LUIS MAGANA/AFP via Getty Images)
Al Drago/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 12: A counter-protester gestures towards members of the Metropolitan Police Department as supporters of President Trump protest against the results of the 2020 presidential election in Black Lives Matter Plaza, on December 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters who refuse to accept that President-elect Joe Biden won the election are rallying ahead of the electoral college vote to make Trump’s 306-to-232 loss official. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)
Al Drago/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 12: Members of the Metropolitan Police Department separate counter-protesters from supporters of President Trump protesting the results of the 2020 presidential election near Black Lives Matter Plaza, on December 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters who refuse to accept that President-elect Joe Biden won the election are rallying ahead of the electoral college vote to make Trump’s 306-to-232 loss official. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)
Al Drago/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 12: Counter-protesters stand together as they watch supporters of President Trump protest against the results of the 2020 presidential election on December 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters who refuse to accept that President-elect Joe Biden won the election are rallying ahead of the electoral college vote to make Trump’s 306-to-232 loss official. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)
Al Drago/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 12: A counter-protester has his eye cleaned after a chemical was sprayed in the air, as supporters of President Trump protest the 2020 presidential election results near Black Lives Matter Plaza, on December 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters who refuse to accept that President-elect Joe Biden won the election are rallying ahead of the electoral college vote to make Trump’s 306-to-232 loss official. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 12: Supporters of President Donald Trump gather near Black Lives Matter Plaza during a protest on December 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters who refuse to accept that President-elect Joe Biden won the election are rallying ahead of the electoral college vote to make Trump’s 306-to-232 loss official. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Stephanie Keith/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 12: Police separate Trump supporters and members of Antifa during a protest on December 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters who refuse to accept that President-elect Joe Biden won the election are rallying ahead of the electoral college vote to make Trump’s 306-to-232 loss official. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
Stephanie Keith/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 12: Members of the Proud Boys and Antifa clash during a protest on December 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters who refuse to accept that President-elect Joe Biden won the election are rallying ahead of the electoral college vote to make Trump’s 306-to-232 loss official. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
Stephanie Keith/Getty Images
Police separate Trump supporters and members of Antifa while a firecracker is set off during a protest on December 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters who refuse to accept that President-elect Joe Biden won the election are rallying ahead of the electoral college vote to make Trump’s 306-to-232 loss official.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
D.C. police stand guard as protesters gather near Black Lives Matter Plaza on Dec. 12, 2020 in Washington, D.C.

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