GARDNER, Mass.—Seven churches and a school in the Gardner area were defaced by anti-Christian graffiti which police said was aimed at people attending church on Good Friday.
The vandal used expletives involving the name of Jesus and Mary and painted several upside down crosses. The messages included "Jesus is dead" and "You brainwashed zombies."
Gardner Police Lt. Gerald Poirier said the vandalism was spotted first at Sacred Heart Church Catholic church at about 11 p.m. on Thursday night. The other vulgarities were seen Friday morning at Gardner churches of various denominations, including Episcopal, Methodist and Baptist churches, as well as a Congregational church in Phillipston.
Narragansett Regional High School in Templeton was also vandalized, Poirier said.
"People got up, they were seeing this stuff, it was terrible," Poirier said. "Whoever did this planned it on Good Friday for the biggest impact and shock value."
The graffiti was all done in black spray paint and appears to be the work of one person, police said. Poirier said police have some leads, but no arrests had been made of late Friday afternoon.
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