Oakland church says vandals destroyed crosses honoring homicide victims

A North Oakland Catholic church's anti-violence memorial was reportedly targeted this week by vandals who destroyed crosses honoring homicide victims.

St. Columba Catholic Church, located at 64th Street and San Pablo Avenue, has long maintained a lawn display of wooden crosses honoring Oakland homicide victims from the current year.

Father Aidan McAleenan told KTVU that vandals ripped out 11 of the 16 crosses currently on display and scattered the pieces into the street and median. Each cross bears the name and death date of a homicide victim, and the church traditionally blesses and returns them to families on New Year's Eve.

Other damage was done to a Virgin Mary statue, which was toppled over, flower pots that were smashed and vandalism to a memorial fountain dedicated to the six people who died in the 2015 Berkeley balcony collapse.

St. Columba is known locally for progressive activism, including support for Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ causes. While no motive has been identified, Oakland police are investigating and asking the public for information.

McAleenan told KTVU the church intends to rebuild and move forward, calling the destruction "a temporary, emotional moment" that the congregation will heal from.

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