A historical church in Kingston was targeted in what authorities are investigating as a potential hate crime. Yesterday, First Parish Unitarian Church on Main Street was found severely vandalized, with Pride and Black Lives Matter flags set ablaze. According to CBS News Boston, the suspect, identified as 43-year-old Jonathan White of Plymouth, could face felony charges in connection to the incident which led to damages initially estimated in the tens of thousands of dollars.
Handmade shutters that had adorned the church for two centuries were torn down and smashed, antique glass was broken, and a fire extinguisher was recklessly sprayed inside, further adding to the desecration of the sanctuary. The flags set on fire had also charred parts of the church building itself. "Overall damage estimates have not been tallied at this point but initial estimates are in the tens of thousands," the Kingston Police Department disclosed in a statement, suggesting that the financial toll could swiftly rise once they have completely assessed the extent of the damage, as reported by WHDH News.
White is reported to have returned to the scene later that afternoon, seemingly to observe the investigation. As noted by WHDH News, upon being approached by a detective, White responded confrontationally and fled in his vehicle. The suspect was later apprehended by police down the road after striking a sign during his attempted escape.
Residents of the Main Street area in Kingston are currently asked by the police to review any surveillance footage captured from midnight to 6:30 a.m., particularly for sightings of a white 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe, which could provide further evidence. White is to be arraigned at Plymouth District Court and may be held to account for his destruction that not only attacked a place of worship but seemed to also directly counter the narratives sustained by Pride and Black Lives Matter movements.
The motive behind White's actions remains unclear at this stage, and the question of whether hate crime charges will be pressed is still under determination by the authorities. With the active investigation ongoing, Detective Lieutenant Michael Skowyra urges anyone with information to get in touch by emailing [email protected] or calling 781-585-0523 ext. 6662.
