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Anti-Obama office in Squirrel Hill vandalized again
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Vandals again struck the Squirrel Hill office of a coalition of organizations against President Barack Obama early this morning, spray-painting their own messages on banners in front of the Forward Avenue building.
Pittsburgh police said two people are captured on surveillance video wielding spray cans on the building sometime between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. this morning, the second time in about two weeks that vandals have struck the office.
The first time, in the early morning hours of October 20, only one person was captured spray-painting on the surveillance video.
The center's coordinator, Josh Wander, said the graffiti was virtually identical: edits of the group's own signage to reverse its meaning.
The "F" on a banner with the message "Support Israel? Fire Obama," was painted over with an 'H,' so the sign read "Support Israel? Hire Obama." They also spray-painted "Elect Obama" and Jewish stars on the windows.
Mr. Wander said dozens of the "Support Israel?" yard signs have been stolen from people's homes and that one appeared to be slashed through.
He tried to keep a sense of humor about it, saying that the signs are "going like hotcakes." But he said it was safe to say that those poaching the signs were likely not planning to transplant them to their own yard.
Mr. Wander's office, which moved into the office in October, is primarily supported by the American Majority Action, a conservative group, but also works with the Republican Jewish Coalition and Heritage Action.
The Pittsburgh Graffiti Task Force is investigating both instances of vandalism.
First Published November 1, 2012 4:32 pm
