War memorials vandalized on the National Mall
Freedom of speech and the right to assemble are just two of many liberties that thousands of Americans have given their lives to protect. Now memorials dedicated to the bravery and sacrifice of those very men and women are being vandalized in our nation’s capital.
On Sunday, protestors took their anger to the National Mall, spray painting the World War II Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, among others.
“In the wake of last night’s demonstrations, there are numerous instances of vandalism to sites around the National Mall. For generations, the Mall has been our nation’s premier civic gathering space for non-violent demonstrations, and we ask individuals to carry on that tradition,” the National Park Service tweeted on Monday.
Congressman Tim Burchett of Tennessee spoke out on Twitter saying the vandalism should sadden us all.
“Americans fought fascist regimes in Europe and the Pacific in defense of our rights and freedoms, and my Uncle Roy was killed fighting in Normandy after D-Day. This desecration is insulting to the Greatest Generation and should sadden all of us,” Burchett tweeted.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also weighed in on the topic on Monday while speaking to reporters.
“It is not a display of courageous citizenship to smash and destroy small businesses that had just barely hung on through this pandemic. It is not an act of principled protest to grab expensive merchandise or set fire to a church. It does not advance freedom or justice to vandalize the World War II Memorial that stands for those who bled and died for exactly those values,” said McConnell.
McConnell went on to say that “you do not advance peace by committing assault. You do not advance justice by inflicting injustice upon your neighbors.”
Politicians weren’t the only ones speaking out against the National Mall vandalism on Monday. Several veterans’ groups also expressed anger. One retired Marine told reporters that by disrespecting the war memorials, the protestors had “awoken a sleeping giant and not done their cause one bit of good.”
The National Park Service was already removing the spray paint from the World War II Memorial on Monday morning. The vandalism comes just one week after the country celebrated Memorial Day.
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