SPOKANE, Wash. – Congressman-elect Michael Baumgartner took to social media to share his response to the vandalism of a church in Spokane. The church was vandalized when a digital sign was spray-painted with the word “genocide.”
The Plymouth Congregational Church was vandalized on Sunday morning after the
Baumgartner who took to social media after hearing of the event.
“I’m saddened to learn that Spokane’s Plymouth Congregational Church was vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti over the weekend,” Baumgartner said.
“I hope the perpetrators are caught and punished. Spokane has a strong history of its community leaders speaking out against religious based hate. That should continue.”
Other leaders in eastern Washington reacted to the vandalism urging for local law enforcement to take action.
Spokane City Councilmember Jonathan Bingle issued a statement saying:
“The people of Spokane will not tolerate hateful and cowardly attempts to intimidate those who stand for their values and principles,” Bingle said.
“These repeated attacks demonstrate the urgent need for leaders to defend the rights of churches and individuals to express their beliefs without fear of harassment or violence.”
This is not the first time Plymouth Congregational Church has faced such incidents, as it was vandalized earlier this year.
No arrests have been made in the incident as local law enforcement are still investigating.
