Lincoln Memorial Vandalized With Red Spray Paint
Someone has vandalized the Lincoln Memorial, the National Park Service says.
The words "F--- law" were found written in red spray paint early Tuesday on a pillar at the monument that overlooks the Capitol building and National Mall, NPS said Tuesday afternoon. The graffiti was found about 4:30 a.m.
"It's frustrating, not only for the Park Service but certainly for the visitors that come here, that anyone would vandalize any of our iconic memorials. Especially the Lincoln Memorial. Especially with everything that's going on now -- the calls for unity and people to come together," NPS spokesman Mike Litterst said.
"To go to the site of the memorial to Abraham Lincoln and do that, that's disappointing," he continued.
These initials were carved into a Lincoln Memorial pillar. The damage is permanent.
Photo credit: NBC Washington
Here's how a child visiting the memorial put it: "They vandalized the Lincoln Memorial, this beautiful masterpiece."
It was not immediately clear if the vandals were caught on surveillance cameras, the NPS spokesman said. The crime is a federal offense.
Work to remove the words is underway. A preservation crew is using a "mild, gel-type architectural paint stripper" to remove the paint without damaging the stone. The crew is applying a layer of the gel, rinsing it, checking how effective it was and repeating as necessary.
Memorial Vandalism on National Mall a 'Slap in Our Face'
On Tuesday evening, the words were covered by thick paper.
The work is expected to extend for a week.
News4 spotted additional damage to the Lincoln Memorial Tuesday afternoon. Someone appears to have carved "M + E" on the same pillar where the red spray paint was found. The letters were thought to have been there for a while. While the paint can be removed, the carving is permanent.
Source: Lincoln Memorial Vandalized With Red Spray Paint - NBC4 Washington http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Lincoln-Memorial-Vandalized-With-Red-Spray-Paint-440565873.html#ixzz4pvslX53y
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