First Selectman: Supports Black Lives Matter, But Not Vandalism

GUILFORD, CT — The pink granite monument dedicated in 1877 is an homage to Union soldiers from Guilford who died during the Civil War.

Sometime Saturday night First Selectman Matt Hoey said, it was vandalized and the acronym for the Black Lives Matter movement painted on the base.

Hoey, who said he supports the movement noted that the graffiti is an act of vandalism not protest.

“While I fully support the Black Lives Matter movement, I cannot condone acts of vandalism on Town or private property," Hoey said. "These types of acts do not represent the essence of the BLM movement and have the potential of diminishing support for the movement."

Once discovered, town parks and recreation employees tried to remove it, without luck.

Hoey said that the town’s "policy is to remove graffiti as quickly as possible after discovered."

Hoey said staff could not remove it completely so the town had to hire a contractor at "taxpayer’s expense."

The graffiti was removed.