The Brief
- Vandals desecrated St. Columba Catholic Church in North Oakland, destroying crosses meant to honor the city’s homicide victims.
- The intruders toppled a religious statue and damaged a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Berkeley balcony collapse.
- Church officials and parishioners expressed heartbreak over the destruction but offered forgiveness and prayers for those responsible.
OAKLAND, Calif. – A North Oakland church renowned for its commitment to social justice is reeling after vandals destroyed several memorials on its property, including a prominent display honoring homicide victims.
Crosses honoring Oakland homicide victims vandalized
Dig deeper:
St. Columba Catholic Church, located at 64th Street and San Pablo Avenue, has for years maintained a front lawn display of white crosses. Each cross bears the name and date of death of a person killed in Oakland during the current year. On New Year’s Eve, the church traditionally holds a ceremony where the crosses are blessed and returned to the victims’ families.
Pastor Aidan McAleenan said his heart sank when he discovered the scene. Vandals ripped out all but five of the 16 crosses currently on the lawn, scattering the wood across the street and into the median.…