LOCAL

Michigan GOP headquarters vandalized for second time in three days with anti-ICE graffiti

Megan Banta
Lansing State Journal
Vandals targeted Michigan Republican Party headquarters a second time late Monday night. Graffiti included the anarchist symbol.

LANSING — The Michigan Republican Party's headquarters was vandalized late Monday night for the second time in three days, police said. 

The Lansing Police Department received a call about fresh graffiti painted at 520 Seymour Ave. on Tuesday, Public Information Officer Robert Merritt said. 

According to a post from party officials, there were three graffiti tags:

  • One that said "(Expletive) ICE," identical to vandalism from the weekend.
  • Graffiti targeting Chairman Laura Cox, a former ICE agent. That graffiti says "(Expletive) Cox."
  • The anarchist symbol. 

The call came just days after the GOP reported another vandalism. 

Party officials discovered that graffiti, which said "(Expletive) ICE," Saturday evening and reported it to law enforcement. 

More:Michigan GOP headquarters vandalized with anti-ICE graffiti

In a statement, the Republican Party said "the ideal of free speech was again attacked by those who wish to silence American voices through intimidation."

“Like children who don’t get their way, these criminals seek to bully those they disagree with, rather than engage in a civil discussion," Cox said in the statement. “These radical thugs choose to intimidate through graffiti and anonymous nighttime attacks, rather than contest their ideas in the press, in the public square and in the polling places."

An LPD detective is investigating both reports, and police have not yet made any arrests related to the vandalism, Merritt said. 

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 483-4600. 

Contact reporter Megan Banta at (517) 377-1261 or mbanta@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @MeganBanta_1.