ATLANTA — The sign at an Atlanta church, known for its inclusivity of the LGBTQ+ community, has been defaced with messages of hate for the third time in June.
On Monday, 11Alive crews saw a worker cleaning up graffiti on the sign of The Church at Ponce and Highland in Atlanta's Poncey-Highland neighborhood. The word "demon" and a homophonic slur were seen spray-painted on the church's sign, which has a Pride Flag next to it. Its church sign read "God is proud of you."
The worker was also seen putting up a camera next to the sign.
In a statement, church leaders said its sign and pride flag have been vandalized on four separate occasions in the last two months - including three times in the last two weeks during Pride Month. The incidents, which church officials said happened on April 28, June 15, June 24, and June 26, included spraypainting homophobic slurs on the sign.
Rev. Mimi Walker, the senior pastor of the church said despite the reoccurring attacks, the congregation will not change its ways.
"We are disappointed that our message of welcoming all people keeps being defaced with hateful messages," Walker said in a prepared statement. "Our church will continue being a radically inclusive community and we will not stop making sure LGBTQ+ folks know that God loves them."
On its website, the church says it's "a multiracial, pro-LGBTQ, economically diverse, member-led Atlanta church devoted to radical inclusivity, thoughtful spirituality, and caring community." The church defines "radical inclusivity" as being accepting of all regardless of "social status, education, race, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, mental ability, physical ability, position, or any other distinction."
Georgia Equality Executive Director Jeff Graham condemned the vandalism on Tuesday.
"It's incredibly disturbing," Graham said. "What today starts as vandalism and words tomorrow we're concerned maybe actually physical acts of violence like we've seen elsewhere across the country in the last few weeks."
Rev. Walker said their message remains, "God loves all people and there are communities like this where we want to share our lives and faith together."
Atlanta Police confirmed on Tuesday they are investigating the recent incidents at the church and provided this statement:
We are aware of a number of incidents of vandalism at The Church at Ponce and Highlands, including incidents where someone removed their Pride flags and placed them in the garbage as well as the most recent incident where someone spray painted homophobic slurs on their church sign. A supervisor has been in contact with the church, patrols have been increased around the church, and our Homeland Security Unit is aware of these incidents and is investigating due to the bias nature of the crimes. We will not tolerate bias crimes being committed against our communities and we will work to identify anyone involved in these incidents and hold them accountable for their actions.
Rev. Walker said the church will also be stepping up security following the most recent vandalism in an effort to catch whoever has been committing the crimes.
"We are disheartened and we are saddened but we're not afraid," she said.
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
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