opinion

West Lafayette church targeted with racial slurs, threats, day after anti-Trump event

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The morning after hosting an event called the Resistance Fair, tied to the anniversary of President Donald Trump’s inauguration, parishioners at a West Lafayette church found banners on their property touting racial slurs and threatening violence.

One banner, painted on a bed sheet and tied to a fence at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 333 Meridian St., read: “Die F-----s, Orlando just like Los Vegas (sic).”

A second banner found at the church referenced singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, echoing fliers distributed in the church’s neighborhood last spring that also called out the singer-songwriter known for his progressive stances. That banner used a number of slurs for racial minorities and gays and lesbians: “N----- F—Sp—Lover.”

The first one included the date of Jan. 23, which is Tuesday. The church’s pastor, the Rev. Charlie Davis, said he considered that a threat, though he said he couldn’t tell the significance of the day, considering that the church has no services or events planned then.

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Browne, though, has a concert planned Jan. 23 in Orlando, according to his website. The references would appear to reference the sniper attacks during the Route 91 Harvest music concert last fall in Las Vegas, where 58 people were killed and 851 others were injured.

West Lafayette Police Chief Jason Dombkowski said police were investigating. He said the Federal Bureau of Investigation had been notified, as well.

“This will not be tolerated in our community,” Dombkowski told the J&C.

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West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis was more blunt, telling the J&C: “I’m so f------ mad.”

Dennis posted a response Sunday afternoon on the city’s Facebook page, saying that police “are working the neighborhood to look for information in regards to this disgusting incident.”

“West Lafayette has been and always will be an open and welcoming community,” Dennis wrote. “We will not allow our embracing of all that is right to be targeted by those who feel empowered to deliver a message of hate, violence and exclusivity.”

Suzan Windnagel, a UU Church member, first found the banners when she came to the church around 8 a.m. to pick up tables for an art fair that afternoon.

“I automatically called 911, because, I mean, you’ve seen the pictures of what was there,” Windnagel said. “The words were sickening, hate-filled and threatening.”

Davis said the banners were found, taken down and police notified before most of the congregation arrived for services Sunday. The church is about six blocks from Purdue University, in the New Chauncey Neighborhood, which is home to many Purdue professors and students.

“Only a few of us knew about it before service started,” Davis said. “Dr. Cornelius Bynum of Purdue was a guest speaker. He spoke about the history of government control of black bodies since slavery. At the end of the service, I announced that the signs had been put up. Denise Wilson of the Blue Moon Rising Chorus lead us in a spontaneous rendition of "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around.’”

On Saturday, the Unitarian Universalist Church, known for its progressive stands on racial and social justice issues, hosted the Resistance Fair. The fair was organized by Greater Lafayette Indivisible, a group that formed in the wake of Trump’s election. The fair included a number of left-leaning organizations in Greater Lafayette and was designed to mobilize groups and voters on the left ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.

On Sunday morning, church member Eric Thiel referenced Saturday’s event in a social media post, along with photos of the banners found the next day.

“My UU Church hosted a Resistance Fair yesterday, with people talking about how to fight against the regressive policies of the Republican president, Congress, Supreme Court and all the Republican state and local officials who are complicit in the destruction of the U.S. as a free society,” Thiel wrote. “But of course, this was all very one sided, so I'd like to give space to the response from those good people on the right so we can get their perspective. Their response was posted overnight on the fences enclosing our playground.”

It was less than a year ago that Jackson Browne’s name was used in threatening messages distributed in West Lafayette.

In May, West Lafayette police received numerous complaints about fliers rolled up and delivered on doors and in driveways near campus with unsigned, uncredited death threats to singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, with warnings to residents: “Hey, you p---- college liberal’s (sic), its Trump time now, shut your mouth or pay the consequences!! Just like this (piece of crap)!!”

Similar fliers targeting Browne were discovered that week in Monticello, as well. A spokeswoman with the agency that represents Browne declined to comment at that time.

The fliers were similar to ones that surfaced in April 2017 ahead of a Windsor, Ontario, performance by the singer of hits “Running on Empty” and “Doctor My Eyes” at Caesars Palace Auditorium, according to a CBC News report. In that case, the fliers showed an ‘80s-era photo of Brown, calling on Canadians to exercise U.S. 2nd Amendment rights and “shoot a socialist.” It concluded: “We’re gunna (sic) shut this f-----‘s mouth permanently!!!”

According to CBC News, the show went on, though security was increased.

West Lafayette Police Lt. Jonathan Eager said he reached out to the Orlando police department to share details about the incident and the ties to Browne’s concert there this week.

Eager said police canvassed the neighborhood Sunday but came up with few leads. He said West Lafayette police would have additional patrols in the neighborhood.

“Basically, we have nothing as far as who posted this,” Eager said.

Fliers from white supremacist groups, largely targeting those of college age, have been reported at Purdue University in various parts of campus in the past year and a half.

On Jan. 12, business and drivers in downtown Lafayette found Ku Klux Klan recruiting pamphlets on their doors and under windshield wipers. Those fliers, distributed just ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, read: "Why you should become a Klansman.” Police took a handful of reports about those fliers, which listed the phone number of a group calling itself Soldiers of Christ, American Christian Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, based in Moselle, Mississippi.

On Sunday afternoon, calls came for West Lafayette to hold a town forum of some sort to discuss the threats made at the Unitarian Universalist Church and others that came before it. Dennis said he was open to the idea.

"These senseless acts of hate are more disturbing now than ever," Dennis said.

Reach J&C columnist Dave Bangert at 765-420-5258 or at dbangert@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter: @davebangert.