On Thursday, members of Seaside Community Church in Torrance were stunned to see a banner – which read “Someday everyone will have the right to legally marry. Don’t give up hope!” – pulled down from their front lawn and slashed with a knife.

“We intended it as a positive affirmation,” said the Rev. Paul Lance, pastor of the 100-member church on Ocean Avenue. “We figured there were a lot of people in the Torrance area who are feeling bruised by the actions of their neighbors, and we wanted to give them a positive message.”