In response to the defacing of the Martin Luther King Jr. mural by a white supremacist hate group, faith leaders and community members in State College will hold a “Unite Against Hate” peace vigil at MLK Plaza at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Organized by Reverend Jes Kast, a pastor with the Faith United Church of Christ, and colleagues Reverend Bonnie, Reverend Kate, Reverend Ben, and Reverend Carol, the vigil seeks to “reclaim” the MLK Plaza in “the name of justice and of love.”

Members of the State College community are invited to join the vigil, and are encouraged to bring candles. 

The white nationalist hate group, Patriot Front, defiled the mural by spray painting their logo over the image of King on Friday. The mural depicts photos from the civil rights leader’s 1965 visit to Penn State. The graffiti was cleared from the mural by 4 p.m. on Friday. 

State College police are investigating the incident as a hate crime, also known in Pennsylvania as ethnic intimidation. They are offering a $1,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the hate crime.

Anyone who has information regarding the vandalism is asked to contact the State College Police Department by phone at (814) 234-7150, email at [email protected], or through anonymous tip on the department’s website.