KKK, other slurs written on Appomattox Co. campaign signs

It may be the place where our nation was re-united after the Civil War, but it’s another sign that’s attracting attention this week.

Racial Slurs on Barack Obama’s campaign signs.

Frank Poynter is Chairman of the Appomattox County Democratic Committee.

“I was sick at my stomach.  I had hoped we were beyond this in this county in the 21st century, he said.

Only 1 batch of signs was targeted—in a field along Route 26 7 miles north of the Town of Appomattox.

JoAnne Martin lives less than a mile away, and her family ties here go back more than 100 years.

“It’s hard to believe that something like this could happen in our God-faring community where we are all Christians and love each other and work together,” said Martin.

The vandalized signs have been replaced by a new sign and ironically, if whoever did this was trying to sway voters it may have had the opposite effect.  The Democratic party tells me they’ve been contacted by some Republicans who say they will vote for Obama.

“We had people coming in all day long—phone calls—from Republicans saying ok, we’ve had enough.  We’re voting Democrat, what can we do to help,” said Poynter.

He says the issue has made the entire state take notice. “The whole state party all the way to the top, including the governor are talking about it. … It’s not acceptable.”

Sheriff O. Wilson Staples tells WSLS-10 that there’s been “some progress” in the case, but it’s too early to know it it’s simple vandalism or the work of someone with a larger agenda. 

Even Martin says it’s hard to know what motivated this.  “It’s really a hate crime, but it’s vandalism and hate and probably prejudice thrown in there too,” she said.

Staples say it’s being investigated right now as an act of vandalism, as opposed to a hate crime – though he left open the possibility that the charges might be upgraded to include hate crimes, if there’s an arrest and the motive is more obvious.