"Racism is real, and it is increasing!" said the Rev. Leroy W. Boldley of St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Scotland. "Maybe we have been too content. We have a lot of young people who have forgotten about their history."
Ken Walker, pastor of Zion United Methodist, called the racial epithets "evil."
"It's more than simply pranks, it's evil -- let's name it what it really is," Walker said. "We need to stand in solidarity. We cannot let evil stand like this. This is a call to action for us. Evil will cross into other counties if it hasn't already."
St. Mary's State's Attorney Richard D. Fritz (R), who was also at the meeting, said his office stands with the community.
"St. Mary's County will not become home to the Ku Klux Klan. It will not become home to any white supremacy group," he said. "As soon as these culprits are caught, the full weight of my office will be thrown at them."
Fritz said afterward that if the case came to his office, he would prosecute it as a hate crime. He said that because both cases of graffiti -- on the snow and on the car -- would be considered misdemeanors, the people responsible, if charged as adults, could each face a maximum of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The St. Mary's incidents brought to mind revelations about a possible racist motive in the Hunters Brooke arsons three months ago in Charles County. Cedar, of the State Police, said he does not believe the two cases are connected.
In the arson case, a recently released court affidavit recounts an interview with suspect Jeremy D. Parady, who suggested a racial motive for the Dec. 6 arsons.
The fires destroyed 10 unoccupied new houses and damaged 16 others. No evidence has been made public that the suspects were motivated by race.
In the interview with authorities, Parady, 20, said suspect Aaron L. Speed complained months before the fires that the "neighborhood is going black" and used racial epithets in referring to the owners of the new homes, according to the affidavit.
In the racist graffitti case, Cedar said officials plan to talk to neighborhood residents.
"Someone's bound to tell us who did it. I mean, nothing is guaranteed," Cedar said, "but it's about as sure as anything that we're going to identify a suspect."
Anyone with any information about the graffiti is asked to call St. Mary's Crime Solvers at 301-475-3333. Callers may remain anonymous, and a reward of up to $2,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and indictment.
