Man spray paints ‘die’ and swastikas on predominately Black church in Michigan, feds say
A man accused of covering a Michigan church in swastikas has pleaded guilty, federal prosecutors said.
In October 2021, David Bluer, 34, took a can of spray paint to Greater New Life Church in Roseville, writing “die” and drawing the hate symbol associated with the Nazi party on the exterior, according to federal prosecutors and photos shared by CBS.
He pleaded guilty to damaging religious property Dec. 3 and faces up to one year in prison.
Bluer’s attorney declined to comment on the case.
In an indictment, Bluer was also accused of spray painting swastikas and racial slurs in a park bathroom in the same town.
The church did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment Dec. 5, but pastor Darnell Moore told CBS, “It would be hypocritical for me to not forgive him when I’ve been forgiven, so that’s why I think it’s so important that we forgive him; you know, we hold no grudges or anything.”
Prosecutors called the act a hate crime, adding that the church serves a predominantly Black congregation, according to a Dec. 3 news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Michigan.
“Racially motivated crimes have no place in our society,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said in the release. “Hate crimes are message crimes intended to sow fear and terror in communities.”
Bluer is scheduled to be sentenced March 19.
Roseville is about a 20-mile drive northeast from downtown Detroit.
This story was originally published December 5, 2024 at 10:09 AM with the headline "Man spray paints ‘die’ and swastikas on predominately Black church in Michigan, feds say."
