Police: Black Lives Matter messages are targets for theft, vandalism in Central Vermont
September 22, 2020 | By Lisa Scagliotti
The Waterbury Area Anti-Racism Coalition's banner is returned to the community banner frame near the municipal offices. It had been removed for repairs after damage from wind. Courtesy photo.
The Vermont State Police are seeking the public’s help as they investigate reports of a Black Lives Matter flag stolen and a similar sign vandalized in Central Vermont communities.
On Monday, 76-year-old James Arisman in Marshfield reported to state police that a Black Lives Matter flag was stolen from his yard on Hollister Hill Road. “A male suspect in a truck with a loud exhaust was seen taking the flag at approximately [1 a.m.],” Trooper Casey Ross said in a press release.
Today, police received a report of an incident that happened on Monday night in Waitsfield at the Yestermorrow School of Design and Build at 7855 Main St. Trooper Daniel Bohnyak described in a news release that a Black Lives Matter sign at the school was destroyed. A representative from Yestermorrow told police that just before 10 p.m. Monday, a group of students confronted individuals breaking a Black Lives Matter sign placed in front of the school.
“The persons involved were seen leaving in a dark-colored newer Honda Civic with white plates,” Bohnyak said in his report.
The incidents come just days after graffiti was spray-painted on a road construction sign and piece of equipment with the Main Street construction project in Waterbury last week. The graffiti message referenced state police supporting “WLM” -- presumably meaning “white lives matter” in response to the Black Lives Matter movement.
After that incident which occurred near the Waterbury Municipal Offices, local anti-racism activists returned the “Waterbury Stands With Black Lives Matter” banner to its spot hanging on the community banner frame on North Main Street. It had been removed for repairs after it was damaged by wind.
Anyone with information about any of these incidents is asked to contact the Vermont State Police Middlesex barracks at 229-9191.