A $1,500 reward is being offered for information after several campaign signs supporting former President Donald Trump were defaced in Wilson County.
WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — A $1,500 reward is being offered for information after several campaign signs supporting former President Donald Trump were defaced in Wilson County.
“We feel violated. It’s a violation of our First Amendment rights,” Brad Lytle, chairman of the Wilson County Republican Party, said.
Officials from the Wilson County Republican Party said they’re leaving the signs on display to send a message to the vandal.
“’Felon’ and ‘racist’ are the main ones,” Lytle said, describing the messages spray-painted onto the signs.
According to Lytle, he noticed the vandalism about two weeks ago: “They were spray-painted red at first, and then some people got creative and even cut holes in some of the [signs].”
Lytle said about a dozen signs were defaced or stolen across the county.
The Mt. Juliet Police Department (MJPD) said it has received reports about five signs vandalized on commercial properties and four signs vandalized on residential properties.
“Why do people feel that they’re entitled to come out here and destroy somebody else’s view in politics? It’s un-American,” Lytle said.
However, the Republican Party isn’t alone.
Officials from the Wilson County Democratic Party said their headquarters was vandalized back in August, with Trump stickers placed on the property. A security system has since been installed.
However, back out on North Mt. Juliet Road, Lytle said the defaced signs are still on display.
“We believe that the signs that have been defaced actually spur our supporters on to more action. We’ve had a lot of phone calls or activity at our campaign headquarters here in Mt. Juliet,” Lytle told News 2.
The party is also offering a reward for information on the person or persons behind the vandalism.
“It is a $1,500 reward to the first person who comes forward and gives us information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators,” Lytle stated.
MJPD Deputy Chief Tyler Chandler told News 2 that vandalizing or stealing a political sign is classified as a misdemeanor within the state. If convicted of that crime, you could face just under a year in prison and a fine of up to $2,500.