Georgia Democratic Congressman, David Scott, found a swastika spray painted on the sign outside his office on Tuesday (August 11). Scott believes the defacing of his sign is a refection of growing racial tension over the controversial health care policy.
Members of Scott’s staff in Smyrna, Georgia arrived Tuesday morning and discovered a Nazi swastika had been spray painted on a sign donning the Congressman’s name. The vandalism took place about a week after Scott took part in a quarrelsome meeting about health care reform, according to the Associated Press.
Scott, who is African-American, said that in addition to the vandalism, he has received hate mail in which he is referred to as “the N word,” and depicts President Obama as a Marxist.
“We have got to make sure that the symbol of the swastika does not win, that the racial hatred that’s bubbling up does not win this debate,” Scott said in a telephone interview. “There’s so much hatred out there for President (Barack) Obama.”
Scott, a moderate Democrat, represents a district just outside Atlanta that is predominately white. He believes the racist innuendo was intended to be a warning of some sort, but hopes the incident will coerce people to maintain a level head during health care summits.
“We must not allow it to intimidate us,” he said.
The congressman’s staffers immediately notified authorities, including U.S. Capitol Police, who have informed lawmakers of the increasing threats spawning from intense health care debates. An FBI spokesman confirmed the bureau has launched an investigation with the Capitol Police and Smyrna Police Department.
Scott’s office is situated in a bank building and the congressman is confident the vandals were caught on surveillance cameras.
