If You Saw Something
Washington County Sheriff Fred Newman said a reward could be offered in this case. He asks that anyone who saw anything suspicious near Briarwood Lane and U.S. Highway 19 overnight Thursday or early Friday call (276) 676-6000 or (276) 676-6277.
Abingdon attorney Chris Johnson, a political independent, said he had never promoted a presidential candidate until he was inspired by Democrat Barack Obama. So Johnson and his 8-year-old stepson painted a “Vote Obama” sign about three weeks ago.
The 2-foot-by-4-foot, blue-on-white handmade sign – a lesson in civics and participation for the elementary schoolboy – was visible to motorists on U.S. Highway 19 and Briarwood Lane in Washington County.
Someone took two cans of spray-paint to the sign late Thursday or early Friday, covering up the word “Vote” and the letter “O” in Obama’s last name with black paint and adding “KKK” twice in white and the word “kill” in black above Obama’s name.
“We are both heartbroken,” said Johnson, 31.
Washington County Sheriff Fred Newman said his agency was investigating and would notify the U.S. Secret Service in Roanoke. An agent there said the Secret Service does not comment on any investigations but would follow up with local authorities.
“We’re taking it very seriously, irrespective of presidential candidates or not,” Newman said. “Any matters of vandalism we take seriously. We have the right to express our views toward our political candidates, but to have someone vandalize a sign is obviously a criminal act, and we’ll do our best to find the perpetrator.
“A good deterrent is to obviously locate the individual and charge him and let him know this won’t be tolerated,” Newman said.
An Abingdon town official, who asked that her name not be used, said she saw two vehicles sporting official Ku Klux Klan flags on Sept. 19, the same day that Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden visited Southwest Virginia.
A “white stretch limo” and a white Lincoln – both flying red KKK flags – turned off Main Street onto U.S. Highway 19, she said.
There were no public KKK rallies in Southwest Virginia that day, nor have there been in recent memory.
Johnson was taking his stepson to school early Friday when he caught a glimpse of the vandalism out of the corner of his eye and said, “Oh my gosh.” His stepson looked up and read the words, too.
“I just saw the terror in his eyes,” said Johnson, who asked that his family members not be named.
He and his wife had heard Obama speak earlier this summer in Bristol, Va. When the Democrat visited Lebanon, Va., on Sept. 9, Johnson, his wife and the 8-year-old were there, too.
That’s about the time the sign went up.
“It’s disgusting, a real shame,” Johnson said. “My stepson and I were shocked. We made this sign together trying to teach him something about civics and involvement in the process and this is what we get this morning when we wake up. It’s so upsetting and angering.”
Johnson, a criminal defense attorney, said he is a staunch defender of the First Amendment and noted he represents the 11 protesters charged with trespassing last week on the Wise County site where Dominion Virginia Power will build a $1.8 billion coal-fired plant.
“If you disagree with Obama and what he says in terms of his platform and agenda, that’s fine,” Johnson said. “If you hate my sign because you hate black people, that’s fine. People are free to be ignorant and stupid. If you go out and destroy signs in the middle of the night, you’re an ignorant coward.
“It’s a blight on our whole community.”
jfoster@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2513
Staff writer Debra McCown helped report this story from Abingdon.
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