Dozens rally at Morristown church after sign promoting equality is damaged
MORRISTOWN — Local religious leaders and members of the LGBTQ+ community kicked off Pride Month Thursday night at the Church of the Redeemer, celebrating just yards from the church welcome sign damaged less than two weeks ago.
"Having a community stand together as Morristown is so wonderfully doing lets everyone know we won't tolerate acts of hate," said the Rev. Cynthia Black, the church rector, "whether they are against our LGBTQ+ siblings, our Jewish friends, racial minorities, disabled people or any other group because they are perceived to be different."
The event was organized after the church's sign, which features the message "All Are Welcome," was split in half early on the morning of Saturday, May 20. The incident happened hours after Black, along with her wife and two other congregation members, set up a rainbow flag nearby in honor of Pride Month.
Morris County authorities investigated the incident as a potential bias crime. But in announcing Thursday that a Clifton man had been charged with third-degree criminal mischief, the Prosecutor's Office said the vandalism did not rise to that level.
"Based on our investigation, we believe this defendant demonstrated conduct that is actionable but not indicative of a hate-based crime," Prosecutor Robert Carroll said in a statement Thursday.
More than 100 people gathered on the church's front lawn, many waving Pride flags and holding colorful balloons, to mark the Witness for Love event. The night included musical performances and prayers from speakers of a variety of different faiths, all expressing support for their LGBTQ+ neighbors and anyone who feels marginalized.
Despite those findings, the community remains shaken by the sign damage. The Rev. Sidney Williams of the Bethel Church of Morristown, a predominantly Black church that was vandalized in 2017, knows how such an act can affect a congregation regardless of the perpetrator's intent.
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"You don't have to have a hate crime to be hateful," Williams said. "Even though the prosecutor says it was not a hate crime, we know how it makes us feel."
Black echoed Williams' remarks after Thursday's event. She is no stranger to attacks against the LGBTQ+ community, and while the Prosecutor's Office did not bring bias crime charges against the suspect, she said, "that's not going to dismiss the way my congregation feels."
The sign now features rainbows, peace signs and other uplifting designs created by the community after the damage. The church has received more than $10,000 in donations in 10 days for the sign, which is believed to be close to the cost to replace it, Black said.
Kyle Morel is a local reporter covering Morris and Sussex counties.
Email: kmorel@njherald.com; Twitter: @KMorelNJH
This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Church of the Redeemer in Morristown holds Witness for Love rally
