Vandalism of Ada church saddens members

BY ANN KELLEY
Published: November 5, 2009

ADA — Blondell Colbert said she knows racism is alive in her community, but never thought it would target her church.

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Threats, racial slurs and a Ku Klux Klan symbol were spray painted on the Philemon Missionary Baptist Church in the predominately black Ada neighborhood known as Hammond Heights. Colbert, who has been a church member since age 11, found it last Thursday.

"It made me sick to my stomach to think that whoever did this has no fear of the Lord,” Colbert said. "That’s what’s most frightening.”

Police short on clues

The church’s sign was removed from its pole and spray painted in red are the words "white power” and "KKK,” along with the symbol for the white supremacist group, Assistant Police Chief Carl Allan said.

Police have not called in the FBI to investigate it as a hate crime, Allan said. No other churches in the area have been vandalized, Allan said.

"We may have some racist idiots in this area, but as far as we know there is no organized KKK,” said Allan. "Racism, unfortunately, is everywhere, and our community has suffered its share.”

Allan said about a year ago police were investigating how fliers for the KKK ended up in Ada Evening News newspapers. They were inserted without the newspaper’s permission and not the work of a carrier, said Lone Beasley, the newspaper’s publisher.

Also, East Central University freshman Joseph Tusan was killed in 2005 by Ammon Dean Reich in a hit-and-run accident that was deemed to be racially motivated and investigated by the FBI as a potential hate crime. Reich was sentenced to 320 years in prison for his attack on Tusan, who was black, and 10 other victims, nine of whom were black.

Prayers for vandals

Colbert said the graffiti has not been removed. She said church deacons decided to leave it on for insurance adjusters and so others in the community can see it. The church has about 30 active members. It was established about 100 years ago. The building was constructed in 1962. Members are praying for those responsible, said Custer McFalls, a church deacon.

"We’ve told our members they have to stay focused and continue to worship as they would,” McFalls said. "Otherwise, racism wins.”

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 332-2824.