During Saturday night’s protests in Washington, DC, pro-Trump protesters vandalized two churches, including setting fire to “Black Lives Matter” banner ripped from the churches, WRC NBC-4 Washington reports.
The vandals, affiliated with the Proud Boys, can be seen on a video of the crime using lighter fluid to set the banners ablaze and stood around the fire, with some chanting “Fuck antifa,” apparently conflating two separate social justice movements.
The violence targeted two historic African American churches in the District: the Asbury United Methodist Church and the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church. The violence happened Saturday night, as mobs of Proud Boys prowled the streets of neighborhoods taunting locals.
“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, “It pained me especially to see our name, Asbury, in flames. For me it was reminiscent of cross burnings.”
Citizens of the District are questioning the response of the Metropolitan Police, who reportedly cleared the way for the Proud Boys and their allies as they roamed through the city and stood by as they vandalized the churches.
Unlike after a fire at the St. John’s Church in Lafayette Square during BLM protests in June, no Republican has spoken out to decry the damage and violence. It is unclear if lame duck president Donald Trump will attempt to do a photo op with a Bible in front of either Black church.