The Fairfax County Police are investigating arson and graffiti on Sunday at the St. John Neumann Catholic Community Church after first responders found a smoldering pile of mulch and graffiti sprayed on the building.
“Fire and Rescue personnel detected an accelerant was likely used in the fire and observed graffiti spray painted on a sign at the entrance of the church. Fire and Rescue personnel requested police to the scene to assist with the investigation,” the FCPD reported in a press release.
“Officers found three additional locations on the back of the building damaged by graffiti. The remarks spray painted were related to the recent Supreme Court Roe v. Wade ruling. Officers are working with the staff of the Church to review surveillance footage.”
That follows vandalism Saturday morning in Lynchburg at the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center.
“A group of individuals, masked with hoodies, entered our parking lot and decided to demolish our facilities, windows, and doors with crowbars and graffiti spray paint all over our building and sidewalk,” Director Susan Campbell said on Outside the Beltway on Monday.
The Lynchburg police posted photos of the vandalism to Facebook on Saturday, including phrases like, “If abortion ain’t safe, you ain’t safe,” and “Jane’s Revenge.”
Governor Glenn Youngkin responded to the vandalism in a tweet: “There is no room for this in Virginia, breaking the law is unacceptable. This is not how we find common ground. Virginia State Police stands ready to support local law enforcement as they investigate.”
On Saturday, the Department of General Services locked the Virginia Capitol grounds citing an incident of vandalism at the Bell Tower. DGS posted partially censored photos of what appear to be chalk-written messages, including “My body, my choice.”
“These pictures show the vandalism near and on the Bell Tower, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register. We blacked out vulgar language before posting,” the department tweeted.
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Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Fairfax County Police Department” by Fairfax County Police Department. Background Photo “St. John Neumann Catholic Community Church” by St. John Neumann Catholic Community Church.
