World War II Memorial on National Mall vandalized with graffiti and fountain bubbles
The World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., was vandalized on Thursday, with bubble soap poured into a fountain and a phrase written in paint on the monument. U.S. Park Police responded to the scene and the Interior Department said the investigation is ongoing.
Two sources · Thin corroboration
The World War II Memorial, located just east of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, was found vandalized Thursday with a phrase written in paint and a fountain overflowing with bubbles. The Associated Press reported the paint color as red and the phrase as "Clean hands dirty $," while Fox News described the spray paint as pink and rendered the phrase as "Clean hands, dirty money."
U.S. Park Police blocked off the area and the Interior Department issued a statement: "The vandalism that occurred is an utter disgrace and will not be tolerated. Our U.S. Park Police are on the scene and the investigation is ongoing. The public should know we will find the person responsible for this disgusting act." No suspect information had been released as of Thursday.
Veterans' organizations and memorial supporters responded with criticism of the act. The Veterans of Foreign Wars said the vandalism was "an act of profound disrespect, a slap in the face to the veterans who served and sacrificed and to the families who carried that burden at home." The Friends of the National World War II Memorial stated that the site "should never be used as a canvas for vandalism." A U.S. Army veteran visiting the memorial told Fox News Digital she was "offended" and "irate" at the sight.