Church hit with hateful vandalism on same day it held forum to fight hate

Police say a Bay Ridge church was targeted with hateful vandalism on the same day it hosted an educational forum that aimed to combat hate.
According to police, a group that promotes hate speech vandalized the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church. The suspects covered the church and the surrounding area with about 20 stickers and threw hateful propaganda over the church's fence.
The group Fight Back Bay Ridge hosted the educational forum on Thursday to discuss ways to combat hate, following the vandalism that same morning. The group went forward with the anti-hate forum anyway.
In a statement, Pastor Aja-Sigmond said, "Though there was an attempt made to intimidate us, we know we're not alone in our beliefs... We're convinced South Brooklyn's diversity is a gift that can be a model for the country and world."
The forum came following outrage over a white nationalist group's banners and posters being spotted in Bay Ridge last month.