A message invoking revolution was spray-painted this weekend on the glass office windows of an incumbent Democratic congressman and the garage door of the home of a Republican running for Congress.
Red paint was used in both cases to write, “Elections No, Revolution Yes.” The punctuation varied in each case, but the words were the same.
Police are investigating both incidents.
Republican Sean Parnell of Ohio Township is challenging Democratic Rep. Conor Lamb for the 17th Congressional District seat.
Parnell tweeted a photo of the graffiti he says was spray-painted Saturday night on his garage door.
It reads: “Elections No Revolution Yes!”
My house was vandalized last night by cowards under the cover of darkness.
This is what is at stake in this election. We all must fight for our country and we must do it NOW.
I will not cower. I will not back down. I will always fight for this nation. #VOTE pic.twitter.com/kQWg71NXr4
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellUSA) November 1, 2020
“My house was vandalized last night by cowards under the cover of darkness,” Parnell tweeted. “This is what is at stake in this election. We all must fight for our country and we must do it NOW.”
“I will not cower. I will not back down,” Parnell continued. “I will always fight for this nation.”
Parnell didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment through his campaign website.
U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle’s South Side Flats office also was vandalized with the same graffiti message: “Elections, no! Revolution, yes!”
Also spray-painted at both locations was an approximation of a hammer and sickle, the symbol of the Soviet Union and other communist movements. Similar markings appeared with the graffiti and paint vandalism of the Doughboy statue and war memorial in Lawrenceville on Memorial Day.
Doyle, a Democrat, is up for reelection against Republican challenger Luke Negron for the seat in the 18th Congressional District.
Graffiti vandalism reading “Elections, no! Revolution, yes!” on U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle’s South Side Flats office. Doyle, a Democrat representing the 18th District, is up for re-election Tuesday against Republic challenger Luke Negron.
(@meganguzaTrib photos) pic.twitter.com/xSeNRnV7GM— TribLIVE.com (@TribLIVE) November 1, 2020
Ohio Township police Detective D. Ryan Ging said the Parnell incident has been reported to the department, and they are investigating.
“We did have an allegation, and we are looking into it, but it’s too early at this point to say what’s going on,” Ging said.
Ging referred questions to police Chief Joseph Hanny, who was unavailable for comment Sunday. Ging said the chief would be back to work Monday.
In regard to the alleged vandalism at Doyle’s office, Chris Togneri, a spokesman for Pittsburgh Public Safety, said: “Police are aware. It has been documented, and police are investigating.”
A phone message left at Doyle’s South Side Flats office wasn’t returned Sunday.
