The Cleveland County Republican Party office in downtown Norman was vandalized overnight with spray paint.
The sign, which hangs above the office’s doorway on Main Street, was covered in yellow spray paint, with the word “pedophile” written over “Republican.”
Cleveland County Republican Party office Feb. 18.
Parker Crawley, vice chair of the Cleveland County Republican Party, told OU Daily the office received a call around noon informing it of the vandalism.
“We’re not going to retaliate or anything. We’re not going to escalate the situation,” Crawley said.
Cleveland County Republican Party office's sign vandalized; county sheriff investigates
According to Crawley, the party filed a report with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office and an investigation has been opened.
Nick Pokorny, chair of the Cleveland County Republican party, told the Daily in a phone call the top priority was to clean off the exterior.
Terry Crawley cleans Cleveland County Republican Party office Feb. 18.
In a Facebook statement posted Wednesday afternoon, the Cleveland County Republican Party condemned the vandalism.
“The Cleveland County GOP is saddened that overnight an individual chose to vandalize our office in Norman,” the post reads. “This act of vandalism is unacceptable. The ability to engage in peaceful disagreement and debate is a fundamental right and responsibility in our Republic; however, destruction of property has no place in our political discourse in Oklahoma.
“We call upon everyone to remember the Oklahoma Standard and live up to the values of service, honor, and kindness when engaging with one another. Disagreements are natural but we must take care to voice those disagreements in a constructive and peaceful manner.”
In a Wednesday Facebook post, the Cleveland County Democratic Party wrote that it condemned the vandalism.
"We have been on the receiving end of this type of vandalism in the past and do not want this in our community," the post read. "Destruction of property and political intimidation have no place here. Respect and lawful engagement must always come first."
This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure. Andrew Higgins and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
