black lives matter banner cherry hill

In this Jan. 2016 photo provided by the Unitarian Universalist Church in Cherry Hill, the stolen "Black Lives Matter" banner is pictured.

(photo provided)

CHERRY HILL TWP. -- Vandals struck the Unitarian Universal Church again, this time stealing both "Black Lives Matter" banners, smashing a wooden frame and two outdoor lights.

Christie McLean, church administration for the Cherry Hill church, said she arrived at around 8 a.m. Sunday and discovered the most recent round of damages.

"We got a new one after the last one was stolen and just put it up a few days ago," said McLean, who added that police were still outside investigating ahead of Sunday's 10 a.m. service.

Earlier this month, the church reported an orange and black banner reading, "Black Lives Matter. Join the Discussion Here," was cut down from the same wooden frame smashed during the overnight hours Sunday.

"We're inviting people to the forum to be heard," McLean said of the Feb. 25 "Black Lives Matter in South Jersey" community discussion that will go on as scheduled.

According to an NBC news station in Reno, Nevada, a Unitarian Universal Church location there saw its "Black Lives Matter" banners spray-painted to read that "all lives" or "white lives" matter. The incidents earlier this month bring the vandalism or theft tally to eight since August, according to the report.

Asked if the church had received any push-back from the community regarding the signs, McLean said they received one phone message from a man who sounded "very angry."

The Cherry Hill church shared the initial hanging of the banner in a Jan. 17 Facebook post.

"Excuse me, but don't ALL lives matter," wrote one Facebook user, to which the church responded, "Yes, but all lives are not being threatened equally."

"We're very much committed to racial justice in the long haul," Rev. Christian Schmidt previously told NJ Advance Media. "It's certainly not going to stop us from talking. If they want to return that banner too, that'd be great."

Either way, Unitarian Universal Church is now out between $300 to $400, McLean estimated.

"We can order more," McLean said of the banners which cost about $100 each.

Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.