At a Glance
- Union Trinity AME Church on 16th & Jefferson was hit with racist graffiti Sunday
- Pastor Tianda Smart-Heath says this is the first hate-based vandalism in the church’s history
- Incident follows similar hate-speech graffiti at Roxborough High less than two weeks ago
- Why it matters: The act targets a cornerstone of the Black community, testing its resolve amid a local spike in hate graffiti
A North Philadelphia sanctuary known for uplifting its neighborhood is scrubbing away symbols of hate after racist graffiti appeared on its brick façade less than 24 hours after Sunday services.
Pastor Tianda Smart-Heath stepped outside Union Trinity AME Church, at the corner of 16th and Jefferson streets, and found fresh spray-paint scrawled across the exterior wall. The message, which James O Connor Fields reported was racially charged, jarred a congregation that has weathered broken windows and petty vandalism before-but never outright racist attacks.
First Hate-Fueled Attack
The church has sat at the same intersection for decades, hosting food drives, after-school programs, and Sunday worship that fills the block with music. Previous damage amounted to cracked glass or small tags, according to Smart-Heath, who told News Of Philadelphia she never imagined hateful language targeting the church.
Sunday’s discovery changed that. The graffiti’s slur, aimed at the church’s Black membership, left volunteers and longtime members struggling to explain how a building devoted to hope became a canvas for hate.
Pastor’s Defiant Response
Smart-Heath, leading the congregation since 2019, addressed members later that afternoon, refusing to let the incident define the church.
“That is not a true statement that we subscribe to,” she said, referencing the painted slur. “And it will not break us. As much as it hurt us, it won’t stop us. We will continue to do the work that has been placed in our hands.”
Her remarks drew applause inside the sanctuary, even as some wiped away tears. Church leaders immediately began coordinating volunteers to repaint the wall, turning the cleanup into an impromptu prayer circle.
Possible Pattern Emerges
The timing has raised concern among local officials. The church attack came 12 days after vandals struck Roxborough High School, spray-painting hate speech across the gymnasium entrance. Authorities have not linked the two crimes, but residents note both involved similar black spray paint and foul language targeting racial groups.
| Incident | Location | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roxborough High School | Ridge Ave. | Late April | Hate-speech graffiti |
| Union Trinity AME | 16th & Jefferson | May 5 | Racist graffiti |
Police have stepped up patrols past both sites, though no suspects have been identified. Surveillance cameras on nearby storefronts are being reviewed, and detectives are asking residents with doorbell cameras to share footage.
Community Rallies Around Church
By Monday morning, neighbors arrived with paint rollers and buckets, many clutching coffee and donuts donated from a local bakery. Children too young to paint handed out thank-you cards they had colored during Sunday school.
Local block captain Dana Mills said the turnout shows the neighborhood rejects the hate.
“We’ve had enough,” Mills told News Of Philadelphia. “This church feeds families every week. Whoever did this picked the wrong building.”
City Councilmember Cindy Bass toured the site Monday afternoon, promising resources to cover restoration costs and improve exterior lighting. Bass also pledged to push for stricter penalties for graffiti deemed hate crimes.
Restoration Underway
Contractors donated primer and paint matching the church’s historic off-white stone trim. Volunteers expect the wall to be restored by Wednesday. Smart-Heath plans to unveil a new mural celebrating neighborhood youth once the surface is clean.
The pastor remains focused on the church’s mission: tutoring programs, a food pantry every Thursday, and Sunday worship that blends gospel hymns with community announcements.
“We will not trade love for fear,” Smart-Heath said. “Scrubbing paint is easy; repairing hearts takes longer. We’re committed to both.”
Key Takeaways
- Union Trinity AME, a historic Black church, experienced its first racist vandalism in its history
- The graffiti appeared less than two weeks after a similar incident at Roxborough High School, though police have not connected the cases
- Pastor Tianda Smart-Heath vowed the act will not deter the church’s community programs or worship services
- Volunteers and city officials have mobilized to remove the graffiti and install brighter lighting to deter future attacks
