A Baltimore statue for children that honors the national anthem was defaced Sunday night or Monday morning, with red spray paint covering the children and “racist anthem” spray painted on the ground near the statue.
The incident happened in Patterson Park, and the statue defaced was paid for by Baltimore children donating their pennies more than 100 years ago, CBS News reported.
Police investigated the incident and found a can of red spray paint nearby but no suspects, CBS News reported.
“While we recognize the issue of freedom of expression, there has to be more appropriate ways to have that conversation, said Jennifer Arndt Robinson, executive director of Friends of Patterson Park, The Baltimore Sun reported.
The 1914 statue was sculpted by J. Maxwell Miller and shows two children holding a scroll that reads: “To commemorate the centennial of the writing of 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' the pupils of the public schools of Baltimore have erected this memorial upon Hampstead Hill where in 1814, the citizen soldiers of Maryland stood ready to sacrifice their lives in defense of their homes and their country,” The Baltimore Sun reported.
Baltimore police are investigating the vandalism but have no suspects. City parks director Reginald Moore said the damage was unfortunate and that city maintenance workers need to work with the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation to find out the extent of the damage, The Baltimore Sun reported.
In September a monument to Francis Scott Key was also vandalized with red paint, and the words “Racist Anthem” were also written in the paint.
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