A Chicago church has been vandalised with swastika and "Rape Mexico" graffiti for two consecutive mornings after Rev. Jessie Jackson delivered on Easter Sunday a powerful sermon underscoring the essence of immigration reform.
The Lincoln United Methodist Church, situated in the Pilsen neighbourhood has been defaced with the hateful messages believed to be a statement against the church's support for immigrants from Mexico, reported Fox News.
"[The vandals] come like cowards in the cover of darkness. The rhetoric of scapegoating and blame has lit a wave of hate. People who claim they're Christians, and then they're talking about building a wall and deporting 12 million undocumented people, this is contrary to the Bible. Jesus was a refugee. You can't claim to be a Christian and come to church on Sunday and not embrace all people," Rev. Emma Lozano, who oversees the church said.
She believes Rev. Jackson's Easter sermon hit a nerve among those who were not supportive of the position and the vandalism was their way of intimidating the church.
While the police are investigating the matter, Rev. Lozano vowed that they will not be fazed by the threats and continue to remain vigilant against possible repeat attacks.
"Some group has determined to send us a message. Of course, we will in no way be intimidated – but we will inform our community and we will remain alert," she told NBC News.
Pilsen has a large Latino population, but has been home to immigrants since the 19<sup>th century when immigrants from the Czech Republic came.
Immigrants now account for 80 percent of the area's population.
