Faith groups to fix yard marred by racist signs

They say they are going to pull up desecrated ground.

Members of various churches representing several faiths plan to spend part of their Fourth of July holiday at a Metairie residence. They plan to pull up racist symbols that somebody chemically etched into the grass. Then they will put down new grass.

Roman Catholic and Episcopal priests, Protestant ministers, two rabbis and a Muslim leader are scheduled to take part in Friday's service.

The vandalism happened in May soon after a black family moved to a predominantly white suburban New Orleans neighborhood. The father, Travis Smith, says he was shocked at the vandalism. But he was also pleasantly surprised at the support and friendship his new neighbors showed him after it happened.