'Ugly, Hateful' Political Sign Set On Fire In Somerset County

SOMERSET, NJ — A political sign described as "ugly, hateful, and undignified" was set on fire on the front lawn of a Somerset home on Saturday morning.

At 8:23 a.m., the Franklin Township Police went to a property on DeMott Lane after receiving multiple calls reporting a flag on fire on the front lawn of a home, said Franklin Police Lt. Vincent T. Wilson.

Officers saw remnants of two custom flags, along with the mounting hardware, damaged by fire, said Wilson.

The two flags mounted on a white sign stated "F*ck Biden" and "Freedom Over Fear."

"The flag on Demott Lane that has been a sign and a source for controversy for several months is now burned," according to The Franklin Reporter & Advocate.

Democrat Assemblyman Joe Danielson (District 17 covering parts of Somerset and Middlesex Counties) saw the flags being burned and spoke with the Franklin Reporter and Advocate.

"No form of arson is acceptable. This was criminal. Despite the suspicion he may have started the fire himself, it is his constitutional right to have whatever sign he wants on his front lawn," said Danielson in the interview. "But I say his right is his wrong. It's ugly. It's hateful. It's undignified and it gives a black eye to all of Franklin."

There were no reported injuries as a result of the fire.

The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation by the Franklin Township Office of Fire Prevention and the FTPD Investigative Division. Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact Detective Sammy Hernandez at Sammy.hernandez@franklinnj.gov or 732-873-5533 extension 3154; or anonymously at 732-873-5533 x7277 or anonymousFTPD@franklinnj.gov.

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