Lauren E Hernandez

Statesman Journal

A Salem family maintains a constant rotation of pro-Donald Trump and anti-Hillary Clinton signs on their front yard due to frequent vandalism and theft.

Sonja Davis and her sons, Matthew and Daniel McCoin, reached their breaking point after three months of vandalized signs Monday afternoon, when they found their "Trump 2016" sign vandalized by black spray paint.

"My little brother put it up and it was already vandalized after three days," Matthew said.

The sign, which is made from a slab of thin wood and blue duct tape fashioned into the phrase "TRUMP 2016," is taped to a tree standing on the front lawn of Davis's home.

The family's second sign, a wooden board with black tape forming the words, "HILLARY FOR PRISON" is taped to a nearby tree and is currently untouched.

"I think it's hilarious that these people are disrespectful to private property," Matthew said. "I'm so used to it right now, but It does bother me that they vandalize the sign or steal it — but that’s what happens in a liberal state."

The vandalism joins other Trump and Mike Pence political signs in Deschutes County vandalized by spray paint in early October, located along Highway 20 between Bend and Sisters.

The phrase, "we want real candidates" was scrawled on top of a Trump and Pence "Make America Great Again" political sign.

"You see a lot of hate in people nowadays and I just think it's wrong with everything going on right now," Matthew said, referring to the recent firebombing of a GOP office in Hillsborough, North Carolina.

The words "Nazi Republicans leave town or else" were spray painted at a building near the Hillsborough office.

Frank Dixon, Democratic Party of Oregon Chairman, said the party condemns the vandalism on Davis's signs and all acts of vandalism.

"There is no place in our democracy for any act of hate," Dixon said. "Unfortunately, this is not the only instance we’ve seen — one of our own offices was recently vandalized."

Nicole L'Esperance, communications representative for Democratic Party of Oregon, said the organization's Bend office was vandalized in September.

In Salem,

Davis filed a police report with Salem police Monday evening. The family does not have a security camera in their yard and was away from home when the spray painting took place.

Davis is angry at the vandals for attacking her freedom of speech.

"I think it's good people have different opposing views, but we have the right to have whatever political views we want to have," Davis said.

Davis and her son joked about installing an additional sign advocating for Trump's presidency, but instead of a wooden sign, it could be an "electric light" sign that glows through the night.

"(My sons) have given me the courage to be a Trump supporter," Davis said, who initially considered herself to be independent. "When I first heard Trump was running before all the backlash and before people started to turn him into a monster, my original thought of Trump as businessman who ... wanted to do something awesome."

Now that Davis has the courage to demonstrate her political viewpoint, she said she feels attacked by the vandalism.

She said about a dozen signs have been vandalized or stolen over the past few months. One woman stopped to scold her presidential choice, yelling " I hope you're proud of yourself with that horrible sign that you have."

Davis said she will inform the police of any vandalism or theft of her signs that take place from this point on and look into installing a security camera.

As the election nears, Davis and her sons said they will continue posting pro-Trump and anti-Clinton signs.

"It feels like people are becoming more socialist and it's like they want the government to do everything for them," Davis said. "The trend is more socialist and that’s more of a Democratic view, where the Republican view is 'Let's all pull together and take pride in ourselves and take pride in America.'"

Dixon said in situations where politically driven vandalism is growing more prevalent, it is important to focus on the broader issues.

"We are focused on the issues that matter to Oregon voters, and we’re working to make sure their voices can be heard this election season," Dixon said.

The Republican Party of Oregon was not available for comment.

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