"“The damage is more emotional and spiritual than it is physical,” McAleenan told The Oaklandside in an interview today."
"St. Columba Catholic Church, an African American-centered parish on San Pablo Avenue, saw multiple crosses symbolizing Oakland's homicide victims ripped up and broken, a Virgin of Guadalupe statue knocked down, and a fountain honoring six Irish students who died after a balcony collapsed in Berkeley in 2015 damaged."
"The church is known for its inclusiveness and progressive stances on political and social issues. A Black Lives Matter sign, a banner calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and the poem “Not in Our Name,” about the war in Gaza, hang on the parish's facade. A sign on the front lawn reads, “Racism is a sin.”"
"For over 25 years, the church has placed white crosses on the front lawn representing the number of homicide victims in the city each year. During mass every Sunday this year, the church reads out loud some of the names of homicide victims from the previous year to honor their memory."
St. Columba Catholic Church in North Oakland reported vandalism that included broken crosses representing Oakland homicide victims, a knocked-down Virgin of Guadalupe statue, and damage to a fountain honoring six Irish students who died in a 2015 Berkeley balcony collapse. The pastor first noticed the damage after Tuesday morning mass and recorded it while sharing it publicly. The pastor said the harm is more emotional and spiritual than physical. The parish is known for inclusiveness and progressive social stances, including Black Lives Matter and Gaza ceasefire messages, the poem “Not in Our Name,” and a sign stating “Racism is a sin.” During Pride month, Pride flags are displayed, and for over 25 years the church has used white crosses and reads homicide victim names during Sunday mass.
Read at The Oaklandside
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