WASHINGTON — Members of Greater Praise Temple Ministries in Dumfries, Virginia, opened up for services last Sunday and were shocked to find messages of hate taped to the front door.
“Very derogatory notes in nature, a couple references to white supremacy, KKK, that sort of thing,” said Chief Nicholas Esposito with the Dumfries Police Department.
Esposito said the department is working with the Prince William County Police Department to try and determine who is behind the postings.
Police have canvassed the area and investigators are examining security camera footage found in the area, but so far, they don’t have a suspect description.
“It’s just not going to be tolerated; that’s not the community that the town of Dumfries has,” Esposito said.
Eric Thompson, minster of music of the church on Main Street, called the posting of the letters with racist messages a cowardly act.
“It’s very disrespectful; we have women and children here,” Thompson said.
Thompson said this is the first time the church has had to deal with this kind of incident, but added that the letters have led to an outpouring of support from the community.
“What that person meant for evil, good is coming out of it because people are coming together now,” Thompson said.
