HOLLADAY, Utah — A family in Holladay said someone sent them a letter, harassing them for supporting Black Lives Matter, and then their BLM sign was stolen. And the family said they’re not alone.

Brannon Richardson thought he knew what to expect when he and his family moved to the neighborhood. But just three weeks in their new home, they received a letter from an anonymous sender that said the following:

Dear neighbor,

Your support of communism and anti-American Marxist groups like black lives matters has been noted by the freedom loving police and military supporters and members in this area.

You may not be educated about the origins or real purpose of the BLM organization and just got caught up in the catch phrase “movement” with blind support not realizing the sign in your yard says you are anti-police, anti-military, and pro-criminal.

If after researching the BLM organizations founders, history, background and goals and you are aware of the true meaning and goals of BLM we suspect the sign be removed so that you are not unfairly labeled an enemy of the country and the patriots that defend it.

If after learning about the Marxist founders of BLM that you currently support, and your anti-police anti American views stand we would strongly urge you to move to one of the many existing communist nations that will openly embrace your idea of freedom as communists are not welcome and communism/socialism will not be tolerated here.

It starts out…

“Dear neighbor, Your support of communism and anti-American Marxist groups like black lives matters has been noted…” pic.twitter.com/UzsVbZ5Ris

— Matt Rascon KSL (@MattRasconKSL) July 30, 2021

“I kind of felt this area wouldn’t be that way,” Richardson said. “I feel like what they’re saying with this is like, ‘Well, it’s our way or we don’t want you here.’”

It wasn’t the welcome they hoped for, but Richardson said the letter wasn’t harmful. Written words are one thing, criminal acts are another.

Less than 24 hours after receiving the letter, Richardson said he came outside and found his BLM sign missing and their pride flag torn or cut off and stolen.

Richardson said he is pro-police, and they filed a police report, bought a new flag and sign and then bought surveillance cameras. And less than a week later, their newly-installed cameras captured someone knocking over their pride flag one night, and then the next night, someone stole the flag and pole and rode off on a bicycle with it.

“I feel like if you want to do something that’s contrary to my belief, well you can do that on your own property and put up whatever sign you want,” he said. “And those people can feel safe and know that I’m not going to take that from them.”

It’s unclear if the same person or group is behind the stolen symbols and the letter. But what has become clear is that the Richardson’s aren’t alone in feeling targeted for their support of Black Lives Matter.

After posting the letter to Nextdoor, they heard from neighbors in and around Holladay who commented with pictures, showing that they had received the same message.

“I believe everyone has the right to express themselves or support the organizations they want to support without being harassed,” Richardson said.

Unified Police confirmed they have received multiple reports of a letter directed toward supporters of BLM.

Sgt. Melody Cutler with UPD said the letter doesn’t contain any direct threats and so it is considered protected speech.

Police tell me the letter doesn’t contain direct threats so it is protected speech. But the theft, of course, is criminal. #ksltv

— Matt Rascon KSL (@MattRasconKSL) July 30, 2021

For Richardson, the sign and flag aren’t as much about what he opposes, as they are about sending a message to others that they are welcome and that they have an ally. And he said the sign is here to stay.

“I mean, we’re just going to keep putting it out,” he said. “We don’t want our rights to express what we want to express diminished in any way and we don’t think anyone else’s should either.”