Crystal Family Receives Letter About Black Lives Matter Sign
Members of a Crystal family say they are taken aback after receiving an anonymous letter in the mail suggesting they remove a Black Lives Matter sign from their front yard.
The Buttlers have lived in their Crystal home for almost 11 years. They say this is the first time they’ve received a complaint from an alleged neighbor.
“I was like ‘who, which one of my neighbors is upset with me,'” said Melinda Buttler.
“It seems somewhat cowardly. I guess I wish they’d be wanting to talk to me face to face, at least have some kind of discussion or dialogue,” said Josh Buttler.
Sign in Buttler’s front yard
In part, the letter says: “Dear neighbor, I wonder if you’re aware your fist sign conveys an implicit threat of violence. The closed fist also implies the use of force for lack of compliance. Do you really think you can change hearts and minds by force?”
The note didn’t threaten to harm the family, but the Buttler family says it was intimidating.
“I became concerned about my family. I kind of thought, this is somebody who’s kind of like a zealot for anti-Black people,” said Melinda Buttler.
Crystal family got this anonymous letter in the mail, suggesting they remove their Black Lives Matter sign.
Neighbor receives similar letter about Black Lives Matter sign
The Buttler family isn’t the only one to get this letter. A lady down the street says she received a similar letter about a year ago after putting up a Black Lives Matter sign.
Both Melinda and Josh Buttler, who aren’t Black, say they will continue showing support for their diverse community.
“We should love our neighbors. Ultimately, this is what this is about,” said Josh.
“Black people are people. They are made in the image and likeness of God, and so I support them,” said Melinda.
The couple says they aren’t planning on taking down the sign. The letter has encouraged the family to put up a much larger sign.
“I’ve contacted a Black business owner to make me a bigger sign so more people can see it,” said Melinda.
