WINTER PARK, Fla. – Leaders at a Winter Park church are speaking out after an inclusive sign was cut down and set on fire outside the building earlier this week.
The incident happened Tuesday at the First Congregational Church of Winter Park, where a sign reading “Everyone is welcome here,” featuring a blue background and a Pride flag, once stood near the church entrance.
Church members say the sign was taken down and burned directly in front of the church’s doors.
Senior Minister Sean Garvey said newly-installed security cameras captured the suspect’s movements.
“Literally, like two weeks ago, we just had these cameras installed,” Garvey said. “We were able to observe the individual coming in from this side of the sidewalk… he made a beeline for it, which indicated to me that he knew what the sign already said.”
Garvey said the suspect cut the sign down, grabbed it, and lit it on fire at the front doors Tuesday night. Fire damage left bubbling paint and burned weatherstripping near the entrance, though Garvey said the overall damage to the building was minimal.
“It was hot enough while it was lit that it began to do that,” Garvey said. “But on a spectrum, there are people who go through a lot worse than this and have a lot more damage done to their buildings.”
While the physical damage was limited, church leaders say the emotional impact has been more significant, particularly for younger members of the congregation.
Emily Barcelo, a church member, said the incident reflects what she sees as a broader climate of hate.
“With the Trump administration and everything happening with ICE, it’s a lot of unprecedented violence, a lot of unprecedented hate that has just become so normalized in our country,” Barcelo said. “You wake up every day, you see a story, and it almost gets to a point where you’re not surprised anymore — and that is just so awful.”
State Rep. Anna Eskamani attended the church Sunday after learning about the incident, saying actions like this can make people question their safety.
“It can force you to rethink, should I go to church today? Am I going to be safe going to church today?” Eskamani said. “Showing up is really important to let folks know that you’re not alone.”
Garvey said the church plans to replace the damaged sign, possibly with a message that cannot be easily removed.
“One of the things that we might think about hanging up there is a message about being a good neighbor,” he said.
Winter Park police and fire officials have been contacted for the surveillance video related to the incident.