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SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake police are investigating a possible "bias" crime at one of Utah's oldest predominantly Black churches.
On Sunday, police were called to the Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church, 239 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (600 South), on a report of a possible vandalism and "potential bias crime," according to a statement from the Salt Lake City Police Department.
"Church members discovered a sign displaying their future renovation plans for the church had been torn down and damaged," police stated.
A message was also written on the sidewalk in front of the church stating, "Stay off my block. You are not welcome. No cheats and liars here." Police say they also learned that the message was originally discovered last week but was not reported to authorities.
The historic Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church was "organized as Utah's first African American congregation in the 1880s" before Utah became a state, according to its website. "Trinity has been recognized as one of 14 centennial churches by the Utah Statehood Centennial Commission. That means the Salt Lake church, estimated to be anywhere from 127 to 131 years old, was established before Utah was admitted to the Union in 1896 as the 45th state. Trinity is the only black congregation to receive that recognition."
Anyone with information on the potential acts of vandalism is asked to call police at 801-799-3000.
