The Michigan chapter of Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a local chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a guilty plea by Warren man who admitted to spray-painting racist, neo-Nazi graffiti on a predominantly Black church.
David Bluer, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of damaging religious property and could be sentenced to up to one year in prison and a year in supervised release.
Superintendent Darrell Moore, pastor of Greater New Life Church told The Macomb Daily: “This is just a slap on the wrist.”
In 2021, CAIR-MI called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for the vandalism.
“We welcome the guilty plea in this case and hope law enforcement authorities will continue to send the message that all hate attacks on houses of worship will be prosecuted,” said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. “Local, state and national leaders must push back against the increasing targeting of racial, ethnic and religious minority communities nationwide.”
Walid noted that CAIR has condemned bias-motivated attacks on churches nationwide.
He urged all houses of worship to refer to CAIR’s Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety guide, which contains security advice applicable to institutions of all faiths.
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CONTACT: CAIR-MI Executive Director, Dawud Walid (248) 842-1418, [email protected]; CAIR-MI Staff Attorney, Amy V. Doukoure, (586) 943-8823, [email protected]