Black Lives Matter Signs Vandalized At Wheaton Church

WHEATON, IL — Messages of support for the Black Lives Matter movement and Jacob Blake were recently vandalized at the site of two churches in Wheaton.

Wheaton police say the incidents took place at Hope Presbyterian Church at 1771 S. Wiesbrook Rd. A person walking their dog saw the damaged signs and saw that one sign was smoldering from having been burnt.

The damaged signs had "messages related to current social justice issues" on them, police said in a press release. They added that the sign that was burned had the church's name and a cross on it.

A "Black Lives Matter" sign was also stolen from the church on Aug. 26, according to police.

Keith Carter, a deacon at Bethel New Life Church, which shares the space with Hope Presbyterian told Patch it's not the first time signs were vandalized. Carter said these most recent hand-painted signs were put up after other "Black Lives Matter signs" were torn down and vandalized with manure.

Carter told Patch, "They put [the new signs] up, and they didn’t even get home when they found out it had been torn down.”

Carter told Patch the church sign that someone tried to burn down also had a pro-LGBTQ placard on it.

Carter told Patch, "It’s pretty sad for the people that did it. It made me sad for the Hope Presbyterian Church because they try to help a lot of people in the neighborhood who have different faiths.”

Carter added that a vigil was planned for Thursday night in response to the vandalism.

Wheaton Police Department Deputy P.J. Youker said in a statement, "The Wheaton Police Department is investigating these incidents, and we will do our utmost to uncover the motives of the offenders. Damage to the property of a religious institution is a serious felony crime and will not be tolerated. Anyone participating in these crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."