Black Lives Matter Banner Stolen Again From Reston Church

RESTON, VA — Thieves have once again stolen a Black Lives Matter banner from the entrance of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston. Church members noticed the banner was missing on Thursday.

"It seems that we have elements of hate returning, as things open up," said the Rev. Dr. Debra W. Haffner, minister at UUCR, in an interview. "It makes me incredibly sad. I think we're all so proud to live in Reston, because of our diversity and inclusion that goes back to our very founding as a community. To think that there are people who are so driven by white supremacy that they would come and remove a statement of inclusion is heartbreaking."

UUCR first installed the BLM banner at the church's entrance along Wiehle Avenue last June, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The banner was meant to be an expression of the church's commitment to racial justice. It was stolen a few days later.

Church officials and members installed the replacement banner last September in a blessing ceremony on UUCR grounds. At the time, they reinstalled a rainbow banner nearby that thieves had taken as well, and they place a surveillance camera nearby to record video of any future thefts.

Unfortunately, the camera was removed to allow the Reston Association to install new fencing around the community gardening plots behind the banner to protect the gardens from thieves. The church had not put the camera back up, so there are no images to identify who took the banner.

"We are committed to replacing that flag every time it comes down," Haffner said. "We will be getting the camera up before this is replaced. Whoever this person or persons are, they were just lucky that we don't have them on camera."

Haffner sees the incident as reminder of the need for vigilance and a recommitment to placing value on the lives of everyone in the community.

"I ask people of all faiths and no faith to work for racial justice in our community," she said.

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Black Lives Matter Banner, Rainbow Flag Return To Reston Church