Residents of a predominantly black Central Florida neighborhood in Haines City, Florida were shocked to see some of their properties damaged and destroyed But they were even more surprised to find the reason behind the actions
« I looked at the fence, I looked at the house and I said, ‘What happened? «
Haines City Police Department officers arrested a local man for destroying front yards and Biden-Harris campaign signs like the ones Washington had in his backyard Police said James Blight, 26, had stolen a bulldozer from a construction site on Saturday October 24 at around 1:30 p.m. He allegedly used the stolen equipment to unearth presidential campaign signs for Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris, including leveling a fence that contained signs, before bulldozing over a city-owned speed limit sign
Blight faces charges of trespassing at construction site and auto theft Although additional charges could be added, Adam Burgess of Haines City said that was not enough
« This is a hate crime and I am disappointed with the Haines City Police Department, » Burgess said
Burgess is a permanent resident of Haines City and also the former Deputy Mayor of Haines City
« We are good people who love our country and we want to make sure that the democratic process is intact and that we can vote without fear of problems and live in our community without such things happening. It’s terrible «
« To get into our community and destroy property it’s about the dog whistles Trump is giving Back and stay away and we’ve got guys in bulldozers doing this, » Burgess said. « What the president or Fox News have to say about things like that? »
The Haines Town Police Department said Blight told officers he had been drinking whiskey all day and couldn’t remember most of that day.However, he apparently wouldn’t undergone a field sobriety test nor faced any DUI-related charges
« The President is not saying anything about this act of violence or other acts of violence He is encouraging them to intimidate voters during the ballot or to say the process is not fair, » said Burgess » We’ve been voting in this county for 200 years and we don’t need the proud boys to make sure the process is intact We have the elections committee for this What we need to do is recognize that this is the America and we don’t choose our president to evoke fear We do it at the polls «
Burgess and his family told Atlanta Black Star they plan to make their voices heard at the polls
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News from around the world – US – « It’s a hate crime »: former Florida vice-mayor outraged by accusations of a white man for allegedly destroying his property with stolen Bulldozer
