World War II Memorial on National Mall vandalized with pink spray paint, fountain overflowing with bubbles
Pink spray paint reading "clean hands, dirty money" was found on the World War II Memorial as U.S. Park Police launched an active investigation.
WASHINGTON — The World War II Memorial on the National Mall was vandalized Thursday, along with a fountain that was found overflowing with bubbles, the latest incident in which prominent monuments have been targeted in the nation's capital.
U.S. Park Police were on the scene and blocked off the area.
"Clean hands, dirty money," letters in bright pink spray paint read.
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The Department of the Interior called the vandalism an "utter disgrace."
"The vandalism that occurred is an utter disgrace and will not be tolerated," an agency spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "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."
The agency noted that the memorial honors the armed forces and the more than 400,000 Americans who died fighting in World War II.
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An Army veteran who arrived at the memorial told Fox News Digital she was looking forward to seeing it and was "offended" by the act of vandalism.
"It just makes me absolutely irate," Debra Mortensen said. "I was offended because people fought and died for our country, and it’s dishonoring our country and all we’ve been through."
Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Park Police and the National Park Service. No information about a potential suspect was released.
In 2016, the memorial was vandalized by someone protesting the then-controversial Dakota Access Pipeline. A vandal spray-painted the North Dakota section of the memorial with the phrase "#NoDAPL."
The memorial was closed for several months earlier this year for a $4 million renovation project upgrading the fountains and lighting, FOX DC reported. It re-opened in May.
In addition to the war memorial, other monuments on the National Mall have been targeted recently.
In June, separate red markings of "8647," a political slogan and protest symbol used against President Donald Trump, were found on the Washington Monument, and damage was reported at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.