Last week, a Kingston parish was vandalized extensively, sending shockwaves through the local community. Now, a local man has been charged with committing several felonies and could potentially be charged for a hate crime.
Plymouth Man Arrested
A man has been arrested in Plymouth County for damages caused to a Kingston Church last week, including vandalizing the building and burning down flags supporting LGBTQ Pride and the Black Lives Matter Movement.
First Parish Unitarian Church Vandalized
/ Steve Mann
On July 4th, the morning of Independence Day, 43-year-old Jonathan M White traveled to the First Parish Unitarian Church on Main Street, where he smashed windows, ripped off shutters at the entrance of the church doors, and sprayed a fire extinguisher through the building, according to a police statement.
Pastor Confirms
He then ripped down and burned the Pride and BLM flags that had been attached to the front of the building during his rampage, confirmed by Rev. Emily Bruce, the church pastor, in a public statement.
“Desecrations and Burning”
“We are keenly aware of the long and ugly history of such desecrations and burning,” she said. “Our church teaches love and understanding for every person, including those who commit crimes like this.”
Arrested on the Same Day
White was arrested on the same day after the Kingston Police Department spotted the man watching the investigation. The department later claimed that this is common behavior for arsonists.
Hired by the Church?
He tried to flee the scene and was then apprehended shortly after. The man later claimed that the church had hired him to clean and do other maintenance work.
Investigator Confirms
/ Fractal Pictures
Detective Heath Howell, an investigator on the case, confirmed his belief that White “had access to the building and was hired to clean,” based on his own observations at the scene.
Claims He Was Not Paid for Work
He alleged that he had defaced and vandalized the building because he had not been paid for his work. White is now facing several felony charges in connection to the crime.
3 Felonies, 2 Misdemeanors
These felonies include breaking and entering a building at night, malicious destruction of property, and the burning of a public building. He was also charged with two misdemeanors: vandalism and fleeing the scene.
Request for Section 12 Evaluation
White’s sister, who posted bail for him, has since requested information about a potential Section 12 evaluation, which is a court order for transportation to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.
Transported to Medical Center
Court records show that White was released on Wednesday last week and transported to the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Community Is Shocked
The act of vandalism sent shockwaves through the Kingston community on Independence Day. It caused potentially irreparable damage to antique features of the building, some of which were as much as 200 years old.
Pride and BLM Burnings
The burning of the Pride and BLM flags also caused alarm for community members, both inside and outside of the church.
Potential Hate Crime?
Some feared that the act could be a potential hate crime, and the Massachusetts State Police’s Hate Crimes is now involved in ongoing investigations.
Possible in the Near Future
Though White has not yet been charged with a hate crime, the state police have informed that a hate crime charge could be filed in the future.
A Safe Space for Everyone
In her press release, Reverend Bruce reaffirmed the church’s rejection of “all forms of hate and violence” in the face of the flag burnings and described it as a space for everyone to feel safe.
Committed to the Community
“Even though that sense of safety has been deeply violated by this incident,” she added, “Our collective commitment to being an open, caring and supportive community for all has only been strengthened.”
Another Case in Ohio
The burning of the church occurred not long after another case of high-profile vandalism involving a minority group that will likely be pursued as a hate crime, this time in Ohio.
Mass Vandalism at Jewish Cemeteries
Last week, almost 180 gravestones were found knocked down and cracked in half at two Jewish cemeteries located in the Covedale Cemetery complex in Cincinnati. The vandalism was decried by local and national Jewish organizations, and an FBI investigation is ongoing.
Act of Antisemitism
President Biden decried the vandalism as a hate crime, or more specifically, an act of Antisemitism, on social media platform X.
Biden Speaks Out
“The vandalism of nearly 200 graves at two Jewish cemeteries near Cincinnati is despicable. This is Antisemitism and it is vile,” his post reads. “I condemn these acts and commit my Administration to support investigators in holding those responsible accountable to the full extent of the law.”
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Yingna Cai.
