The Pride and Black Lives Matter flags get vandalized outside of Cary church again

"We've had them stolen and recently, we had them cut up," said Wesley Spears-Newsome, associate pastor at Greenwood Forest Baptist Church.

Spears-Newsome says the vandalism hasn't cost the church any money because community members sent in tons of replacement flags after the flags were burned.

The flags at Greenwood have been on display since 2020. Various issues of scorching, burning and cutting have been ongoing, and many in the community feel unsafe.

"As soon as they're damaged or disappear, I'm out there putting new ones up that have been sent to us by members of the community," said Spears-Newsome

Individuals, including Cary Town Councilor Carissa Johnson, have been in Cary for 25 years and have supported the church and its message.

"I admire them very, very much." said Johnson. "People are inspired by their very public message of inclusion."

She also expressed that bigotry or racism is not welcomed in Cary and that most people in the city stand behind the message of inclusion.

Another person who supports the church is Cary Mayor Harold Weinbvrecht, who has lived in Cary for most of his life. He discusses the importance of being a family and how the community should embrace each other.

"It doesn't match what I think our community in Cary is. Cary is a very welcoming, embracing community, and every life and person in care is important, and we should be like a family. And that includes the LGBTQ+ community," said Weinbvrecht.

Spears-Newsome says that he used to be angered, having deep sadness and grief, not just for our community but for people who are targeted by the targeting of these flags.

"If they see their flag outside of our church, whenever they drive by, I hope that that gives them hope and assurance that they would be included here, and they belong, not just at our church, but in our community as well," said Spears-Newsome.

When asked why the church keeps the flags up, Spears-Newsome says, "We keep putting them because people need to hear that there are places that include them, where they will be safe, and that there are people who care about issues of race, and gender, and sexuality in our country right now."

Cary church keeps stockpile after series of vandalism attacks on Pride, Black Lives Matter flags

The church said that they are not getting the police involved this time.