Between June 28th and July 2nd, two local parks with statues were vandalized with the same message. The letters “BLM” short for Black Lives Matter was spray painted on the statue of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson between June 28th and June 29th at the Manassas Battlefield National Park, which is federally owned. Just a couple of days later, “BLM” was also spray painted along with the letter “FTP” short for F*ck the Police at Jennie Dean Park in Manassas on Wellington Road. Jennie Dean Park, named after Jennie Dean, a former slave born in Prince William was freed after the Civil War in 1865 and founded the Manassas Industrial School on the site where a statue of her stands today.

Both acts of vandalism have since been removed and cleaned. A federal investigation is underway in regards to the vandalism at Manassas Battlefield.

– Coles District Staff