WATCH: Culprit caught on camera trying to torch family’s Black Lives Matter flag

Authored by nj.com and submitted by JerseyWiseguy
image for WATCH: Culprit caught on camera trying to torch family’s Black Lives Matter flag

Ashauntee Williams said she and her mother moved to a nice neighborhood in Pennsauken in July.

After living in Camden, where they were “tired of feeling scared all the time,” she said they were excited to move to a quiet place where their neighbors made them feel welcome.

But shortly before midnight on Sept. 12, while she was getting into bed, that sense of peace and security was shattered. Williams, 22, was home alone when her mother, Annie Williams, called and told her to call the police.

Their Ring doorbell camera had sent live video to her mother’s phone of someone holding a lighter to their Black Lives Matter flag, trying to burn it while it hung from their front porch, Ashauntee Williams said.

“I was running down the steps calling 911,” she said in an interview at her home Tuesday.

By the time she got to the porch, the man had given up on burning the flag, which only appeared to melt a little on corner, she said. Instead he yanked it down and fled, the video shows.

Ashauntee Williams, 22, holds the Black Lives Matter flag in front of her home Sept. 22, 2020. The family's Ring doorbell camera caught someone trying to light it on fire Sept. 12 but it wasn't seriously damaged, she said.Rebecca Everett | For NJ.com

Pennsauken police did not return calls Tuesday evening, but told News12 earlier that they were investigating and the culprit could face criminal mischief charges.

Ashauntee Williams said she and her mother put up the flag, which they see as a message about equality, about two months ago. She said they have not experienced any rude comments or attacks on the banner before this incident. While chatting with a reporter Tuesday, a passing driver honked his approval for the flag.

“I didn’t think it would draw such negative attention,” she said. “Not to the point that someone would walk up and try to set it on fire.”

She replaced the broken flag pole and said that they will keep the flag flying in their little corner of Pennsauken - no matter what.

Ashantee Williams, 22, shows the burned bottom corner of the family's Black Lives Matter flag at her home in Pennsauken Sept. 22, 2020.Rebecca Everett | For NJ.com

The video makes it hard to see the culprit’s face, but she said she hopes someone will recognize him and identify him to the police.

Anyone with information about incident or the man in the video can contact Pennsauken police at 856-488-0080 or via their website.

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frizbplaya on September 23rd, 2020 at 13:38 UTC »

My search history now includes, "what material are flags made from" and "does nylon burn". I'm on a list.

Clearbay_327_ on September 23rd, 2020 at 13:27 UTC »

When I first moved to Houston in the late 90s I remember there was this story on local news about a couple that put a relatively small burning cross in front of an African American neighbor's home. They got like 20 yars for hate crime.

Edit: getting a lot of comments about the size of the cross. I was just reiterating that it was not one of those giant burning KKK crosses but literally like 2 tomato stakes nailed together. Not that this makes it any less heinous. Just painting an accurate picture.

HR_Dragonfly on September 23rd, 2020 at 13:03 UTC »

Trying to light a flag that is attached to the house should result in special charges.