Members of a Towson church gathered Sunday to rededicate a Black Lives Matter banner that has been vandalized nine times in the past.The Towson Unitarian Universalist Church's first Black Lives Matter banners were installed a year ago.Church leaders said that Baltimore County police installed a camera between January and February. Now, the church is working to get its own video security system."We dedicated putting a banner in front of our church to help spread the word that we should be less racially offensive to non-white citizens," church member Timothy Boniface said. "As the vandalism continued taking place, it just became far more depressing to know that some of our neighbors believed it was appropriate to destroy property for a message that they did not agree with."The church's pastor, the Rev. Clare Petersberger, is hoping she'll get the chance to talk to people who have concerns about the banners."I see this as an opportunity for education and dialogue and greater understanding," she said.Former president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and current Maryland gubernatorial candidate, Ben Jealous spoke at the ceremony."Black people in our country have been mistreated again and again. This congregation is standing up and saying black lives matter. (It) should be something we all can respect and embrace," he said.Baltimore County police did investigate the instances of vandalism.In the past, the banners have been stolen, defaced and torn.

Members of a Towson church gathered Sunday to rededicate a Black Lives Matter banner that has been vandalized nine times in the past.

The Towson Unitarian Universalist Church's first Black Lives Matter banners were installed a year ago.

Advertisement Related Content Black Lives Matter banner stolen from Towson church

Church leaders said that Baltimore County police installed a camera between January and February. Now, the church is working to get its own video security system.

"We dedicated putting a banner in front of our church to help spread the word that we should be less racially offensive to non-white citizens," church member Timothy Boniface said. "As the vandalism continued taking place, it just became far more depressing to know that some of our neighbors believed it was appropriate to destroy property for a message that they did not agree with."

The church's pastor, the Rev. Clare Petersberger, is hoping she'll get the chance to talk to people who have concerns about the banners.

"I see this as an opportunity for education and dialogue and greater understanding," she said.

Former president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and current Maryland gubernatorial candidate, Ben Jealous spoke at the ceremony.

"Black people in our country have been mistreated again and again. This congregation is standing up and saying black lives matter. (It) should be something we all can respect and embrace," he said.

Baltimore County police did investigate the instances of vandalism.

In the past, the banners have been stolen, defaced and torn.