BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (AP) - A veterans monument in Vermont was vandalized over the weekend to allegedly highlight a lack of diversity, officials said.
A message that reads ”+65. POCs Lives Matter Too.” was spray painted on the monument in Brattleboro, the Brattleboro Reformer reported. The monument honors citizens who died in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
In December, the Brattleboro Historical Society said research shows that the number of soldiers honored at the Soldiers’ Monument, a separate memorial in Brattleboro, is incorrect because it did not include people of color.
“I don’t care how noble you think your cause is, this type of blatant disrespect for our men and women who have served and died in our nations’ armed forces has no place in Brattleboro,” Select Board chairman Tim Wessel said in a statement.
Town Manager Peter Elwell said the police department is investigating the vandalism.
The paint was due to be removed Monday.
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