Two war monuments located in Oregon and Rhode Island were vandalized over Memorial Day Weekend.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial located at Skinner Butte Park in Lane County, Oregon was spray-painted with the phrase “I refuse to glorify imperialism,” as reported by a CBS affiliate in the area. Law enforcement waited until Tuesday to clean the monument in order to not “disrupt flags” put there for the federal holiday, and were called prior to war veterans showing up at the location for festivities on Memorial Day.
“Portland gets the most attention for destructive anti-American activity, but these extremists are all over our state,” Dru Draper, communications director for the Oregon Senate GOP, told The Federalist. “These heroes gave everything for our freedom – even for those who defaced this memorial for veterans. That is the difference between real patriotism and immature extremism.”
The Providence War Memorial in Rhode Island was likewise targeted over the holiday weekend. Black spray paint was found on four stones commemorating soldiers who died in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Police were informed of the vandalism Monday morning and cleaned it up Tuesday.
Last year, the city of Providence took down a Christopher Columbus statue after it was vandalized by three individuals who were later arrested. Oregon has been affected far worse by criminal agitators, as Portland continues to be a haven for rampant crime.
A spokeswoman for the Providence Police Department confirmed no one has been arrested. Likewise, no one has been brought to justice in the Oregon vandalism.
