Residents Fight 'Whites Only' Graffiti With Messages of Love

SILVER SPRING, MD — Messages of love and welcome — scrawled with crayons, sidewalk chalk and ink — were left at a Silver Spring church Monday night to counteract the anti-immigrant vandalism that happened over the weekend at Episcopal Church of Our Savior, 1700 Powder Mill Road.

A reward of $10,000 is being offered for tips that lead to the arrest of whoever vandalized a sign advertising the Spanish-language Mass at the church and the wall of the parish's memorial garden. The words, "Trump Nation. Whites Only," were painted on the sign and wall sometime Saturday night, according to Montgomery County Police. The department called the act "hate-based vandalism."

A priest from the church discovered the graffiti about 7:30 a.m. Sunday.

Kristin Mink wrote on Facebook Monday night, “Who will join me tonight to bring signs and cards of love and welcome, and flowers for the vandalized cemetery, to this 80 percent immigrant church that is ‘afraid’ to be in our very backyard? We must not let the hateful few speak the loudest!”

»SEE ALSO: Silver Spring High School Students Take to Streets in Trump Protest (Update)

Her message reached fellow residents, who left messages at the church that said, "Silver Spring welcomes you," "America is for everyone," and a campaign quote of First Lady Michele Obama, "When they go low, we go high."

Mink shared photos of the community response with Patch and other media on social media. "The Silver Spring community stood up! Racist pro-Trump church defacement replaced w/ love!" she said.

On its website, the church says its community is an eclectic mix of original church founders, young families, and individuals representing many racial and cultural traditions around the world.
Anyone with information about this vandalism or the suspect(s) is asked to contact investigators at 240-773-6870.

For those who wish to remain anonymous, Crime Solvers of Montgomery County is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any information that leads to the arrest of the suspect(s). Tipsters can call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

The Montgomery County Council and County Executive Ike Leggett on Tuesday focused on community concerns about safety and possible discrimination, harassment and hate crimes. A resolution was unanimously adopted that reaffirmed the county’s tradition of respect for all residents and denounce anti-immigrant activity, hate speech, hate crimes and harassment in Montgomery County.

County Council President Nancy Floreen said it is important for elected officials to reaffirm county values.

“We are standing united to say we are a diverse community that believes in the dignity and importance of all of our residents,” Floreen said.

The resolution notes that Montgomery County has the largest population of foreign-born residents in Maryland (nearly one-third) and that more than 70 percent of students in Montgomery County Public Schools are Hispanic/Latino, African American, Asian American or multi-racial.

»Photos used with permission of Kristin Mink, pictures of community messages at Episcopal Church of Our Savior in Silver Spring.