The congregation at an Arlington, Massachusetts, church decided to make a public statement on their front lawn.
The sign with the controversial "black lives matter" slogan struck a nerve.
"Someone came with white paint and had covered up the word black," said Lori Kenschaft, Clerk at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington.
The sign left bent and broken saying simply "lives matter."
Critics of Black Lives Matter have argued that the mantra should be "all lives matter" instead.
Kenschaft said the point of the sign was to open up conversation.
The congregation will gather Tuesday night at 5:15 to put a new, stronger sign up.
