Parties Complain of Political Vandalism in Prince William

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politicalattacksinpwc The Prince William Democrats and Republicans share photos of the kinds of anti-political vandalism they have experienced.

Prince William Republicans and Democrats have both experienced vandalism or the disruption of election messages in the months and weeks leading up the 2016 Presidential Election.

Republicans say they have experienced several cases of vandalism of Trump signs, theft of signs and even more damaging acts of vandalism to homes and property, while Democrats have seen hacked electronic signs bashing Hillary Clinton.

The PWC Republican Committee sent a release, Wednesday, entitled “Prince William Republicans Call on Democratic Chair to Denounce Vandalism and Attacks on Free Speech.”

screen-shot-2016-11-02-at-9-08-22-pm Example of one of the least offensive examples of vandalism to a campaign sign.

“Prince William County Republicans today called on Hillary Clinton supporters and the Prince William Democratic Chairman to denounce the vandalism and attacks on free speech occurring to Republican property and campaign signs across the county,” the release begins.

The committee notes eight instances of stolen or vandalized property that they have been made aware of in the county. Republicans say that number is unusually high even for a presidential election year.

The release draws a connection between these local acts and more perilous acts committed in the name of presidential politics locally, regionally and around the nation.

A Republican office in North Carolina was firebombed in October. Gainesville resident, Judy Beaty, experienced repeated vandalism and theft at her house this year. In Loudoun County, a Republican campaign office in Sterling received a threat.

trumpgraffiti Graffiti on the wall of a Prince William county residential property includes profanity.

Photos depict signs that have been vandalized as well as damage to a person's home property, upon which was written "F##k Trump in spray paint."

Prince William Democratic Chair Harry Wiggins responded to the Republicans call, via an email message to Bristow Beat.

“I have told all members of our Committee not to vandalize or otherwise deface Republican signs,” said Wiggins. “This was a long-standing agreement with the former Chair of the PWC Republican Committee.”

Wiggins said he is unaware of any of his committee members defacing Trump signs. Instead, he said Trump since has offended a litany of Americans, it could be anyone.

“In that Trump has excoriated every group in the country, African Americans, Latinos, women, Muslims, Jews, the disabled, the list goes on and on, it could be anyone or any group that Trump has demeaned that has decided to turn the tables.”

Wiggins said Trump supporters have committed their own acts of disruption in the county.

Image of one of the messages that appeared on the Hertz Tackett's Mill sign, Nov. 2. Image of one of the messages that appeared on the Hertz Tackett's Mill sign, Nov. 2.

Photos and email messages, dated Nov. 1, show that an electronic sign displaying nonpartisan election info at the Tackett's Mill Commuter Lot in Occoquan was altered to instead post a hateful, anti-Hillary Clinton rhetoric.

That sign posted three screens saying “CROOKED HILARY”* “IS A B##CH” and “VOTE TRUMP.”

The sign was owned by the Hertz Equipment Rental Company. A resident noting the sign said the keyboard was left opened and unlocked, allowing someone to change the sign without authorization.

The message was forwarded to the Prince William Chief of Police, the Hertz Equipment Rental Company and a Prince William Electoral Board Official Keith Scarborough who informed Wiggins, Nov. 2, that the sign had been fixed and secured.

*Yes, an "L" was left out of Hillary. 

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