By Michael Gryboski, Editor Thursday, October 09, 2025

A church in Alabama was defaced by vandals days after announcing its decision to host a Turning Point USA event. 

The Movement Church of Madison was the target of an attack by an individual or group of vandals who spray-painted the words “Bryan Dawson serves the antichrist” and “Beware his falsehoods” on the exterior of the church building sometime between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, according to authorities.

Dawson serves as president and CEO for a conservative group called 1819 News and was scheduled to speak at a Turning Point USA event that the church is hosting Thursday evening.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office released a statement Wednesday evening asking for the public's assistance in apprehending the guilty party.

“Detectives are actively reviewing all available evidence and are encouraging residents and business owners in the area to check their security cameras or doorbell footage for any suspicious activity that may have occurred during the timeframe of the incident,” stated authorities.

“Even small details, such as an unfamiliar vehicle, a person on foot, or unusual sounds or movements, could provide valuable leads to help solve this case.”

Madison County Sheriff Kevin Turner was quoted in the statement, with the law enforcement official stressing that vandalism wouldn't be tolerated in his municipality.

“Every person, regardless of their beliefs or affiliations, deserves to feel safe where they worship, work, or gather, said Turner. “Our office will use every available resource to identify those responsible for this senseless act and bring them to justice.”

Movement Church Pastor Seth Adgate told CBS News affiliate WHNT News 19 that while the vandalism was “not surprising,” it still caught him “off guard.”

“But it’s not surprising based off past events where we’ve had to bring our sheriff’s office here. I mean, our security internally has had to step it up,” he continued.

Adgate told WHNT that his church still intends to hold the event, though they are “talking with the sheriff’s department” and local authorities are “doing some extra things to make sure this event runs free and clear of problems.”

“We have internal security, and the sheriff’s office was already going to come,” Adgate added. “But because of the nature of what it is, that it is at a religious organization, it is considered a hate crime at that point.”

Last month, Turning Point USA and TPUSA Faith co-founder and CEO, Charlie Kirk, was fatally shot at an event on the campus of Utah Valley University, leaving behind a wife and two young children, ages 3 and 1.

Shortly after the murder, authorities arrested Tyler James Robinson, 22, who allegedly assassinated Kirk because he disagreed with his conservative Christian views.

Robinson was charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, tampering with a witness, and violent offense committed in the presence of a child.