'Black Lives Matter' Sign, Previously Vandalized, Stolen from Church

In what a Bethesda church leader calls evidence of racism in Montgomery County, a “Black Lives Matter” sign outside a church has been stolen – after twice being vandalized.

During a summer when race relations have been a topic across the country, the “Black Lives Matter” sign outside the River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation was vandalized twice in two weeks before it was stolen Tuesday.

On Aug. 11 someone removed the word “black” from the sign at the church, leaving only “lives matter.” The same action happened on July 29 and the church replaced the sign on Aug. 6, reports Montgomery Community Media.

“Vandalized twice and stolen once and we think that’s a pretty powerful indicator of the fact that frankly racism is alive and well in this country and right here in Bethesda,” the Rev. Nancy Ladd told FOX DC.

Montgomery County Police Department Capt. Paul Starks said investigators have leads and hope to find the suspects involved in all three cases.

»Photo of sign at River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation, courtesy of Montgomery Community Media