By Viviane Faver
This weekend, pro-Trump protesters tore and burned Black Lives Matter banners at two African American churches in D.C., according to the Washington Post. According to the organization Black Lives Matter, the group had targeted the Ashbury United Methodist Church, which has been on the corner of 11th and K NW streets since 1836 and is the oldest African American church to remain in its original location. They also attacked the AME Metropolitan Church.
A series of videos depicting the violence was posted on Twitter, like one showing the far-right group known as the Proud Boys, marching with a Black Lives Matter banner raised over their heads as they shouted “F— antifa” and set fire. “Last night, protesters who were part of MAGA meetings dropped our Black Lives Matter sign and burned it on the street,” said senior pastor Rev. Ianther M. Mills in a statement. “It hurt me especially to see our name, Asbury, on fire. For me, it was reminiscent of burning a cross. “According to WaPo, D.C. police declined to say whether any arrests were made in the cases, but said they are investigating them as possible hate crimes. “We take these crimes seriously and are currently investigating them as a possible hate crime,” said police spokeswoman Alaina Gertz. Believing that white supremacists are behind the attack on Black churches in D.C., the Black Lives Matter organization leaders are asking the Justice Department to open a federal civil rights investigation into the matter. “Yesterday, D.C. was invaded by white supremacists who were helped and protected by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD),” said April Goggans, a central organizer for Black Lives Matter DC, in a statement. She said that she does not expect MPD to protect blacks and accused the police department of protecting white supremacists who threatened lives, damaged historic churches, and destroyed and burned property.
