(Correction: changes paragraph 3 day to Thursday from Wednesday.)
Police in Palmetto, Florida, are investigating the desecration of a historic, predominantly African American cemetery where vandals damaged 17 gravesites and toppled headstones, leaving red spray paint on several tombs that referenced U.S. political figures.
Detectives said the damage at Old Memphis Cemetery, located in Palmetto roughly 31 miles (50 km) south of Tampa on Florida's west coast, appears to have taken place within the past few weeks. The Manatee County Sheriff's Office said in a statement on Tuesday that the probe is ongoing and that no arrests have been made.
Relatives visiting the cemetery discovered the damage and expressed shock and anger. Glenn Searls, 77, told reporters on Thursday he felt "extreme anger" at what he saw at the cemetery, which was established in 1904 for Black residents of Palmetto's Memphis neighborhood. "When you look and you see 'DeSantis' and 'Trump' spray-painted on a vault, it makes you wonder if it's politically motivated, and I tend to believe it is," Searls said.
Another relative, Edrena Love Freeman, said on Wednesday she found her father's gravestone had been moved. Standing by the grave of her father, a World War Two veteran who died in 1970, she said: "I just thought it was evil, it's just not right."
The graffiti included the names "Trump" and "DeSantis" sprayed in red letters on tombs, referring to former U.S. President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Authorities have not publicly identified a motive, and investigators continue to gather evidence at the site.
Comments from federal-level officials described the vandalism in strong terms. White House spokesman Davis Ingle said: "Anyone who engages in this disgusting behavior must be condemned in the harshest terms possible." The office of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The incident has unfolded amid a politically charged environment in the lead-up to the November midterm elections. The report noted that race has become a focal point as Republican-led southern states pursue redistricting efforts that are likely to reduce the number of districts represented by Black Democrats.
Officials have emphasized the ongoing nature of the investigation and the absence of arrests to date. Detectives continue to review evidence at the historic burial ground as family members and community residents seek answers about who was responsible and why their loved ones' resting places were targeted.
Quick facts
- Site: Old Memphis Cemetery, Palmetto, Florida.
- Damage: 17 gravesites affected; headstones knocked down; red spray paint naming political figures applied to tombs.
- Timing: Believed to have occurred within the past few weeks.
- Investigative status: Manatee County Sheriff's Office stated on Tuesday that the investigation is ongoing; no arrests reported.