Posted on 03/21/2012 1:49:49 PM PDT by mdittmar
YAKIMA, Wash. — Standing in the lobby of the Larson Building with about 10 supporters, Central Washington Tea Party leader Kirk Groenig held a news conference to show pictures of his vandalized 1994 Jaguar XJ6.
Slashed tires, smashed windows and torn upholstery marred the vehicle, and Groenig said the graffiti in black painted on the outside prove the vandalism was a premeditated attack for political reasons.
"T-BAG," an alternate spelling for a sexual epithet commonly used by opponents to mock members of the tea party, was painted on the back hood and driver’s side doors. "RACIST" was painted on the passenger side doors.
Groenig called the incident, which occurred late in the evening Feb. 21 at his home on Badger Pocket Road in Ellensburg, a hate crime because his political positions are rooted in his Christian faith. He said the event occurred days after he made comments on the Yakima Herald-Republic website condemning the recently approved gay marriage law, and believes the two are connected.
"It appears I was targeted by members of the radical homosexual community for my religious beliefs and in particular my objection to homosexual marriage," said Groenig, who has been involved in the Referendum 74 campaign to overturn the state law permitting gay marriage.
Malicious harassment is the state’s hate-crime law, which makes it a crime to injure, make credible threats to injure or damage property because of someone’s "race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or mental, physical, or sensory handicap."
Although he reported the incident shortly after it happened, Groenig said he waited nearly a month to discuss it publicly because he and his wife feared further retribution.
"My wife felt very threatened," he said.
No shoe impressions, tire tracks, tools or paint cans were located at the scene, according to a report by the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office. The report also says neighbors did not see or hear anything unusual, and there are no known suspects or witnesses.
Kittitas County Sheriff Gene Dana said Tuesday the case is inactive until his office receives new information that would help identify who was involved.
Sustained high winds throughout the night possibly drowned out most noise from the incident, he said.
Groenig said the car was a "total loss."
The conservative activist has drawn criticism for his public positions. In 2010, his tea party group sponsored a float in a Naches parade in which a man wearing a President Obama mask cracked a whip over a youth pulling the wagon. Several people on the float carried signs critical of federal spending, Wall Street bailouts, tax increases and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat.
Organizers of the Sportsman’s Days event said they received complaints that the float’s depiction of Obama was "over the top" and involved a racial stereotype from the slave era more than 150 years ago.
Groenig rejected the criticism at the time, saying the float had no racial intent.
Probably a Ron Paul supporter. There are quite a few in that demographic. We need to make common cause with them. Difficult with candidates like Mitt and Rick.
The rear of automobiles has always been called the "rear deck."
Even in rear-engined cars.
Thank you.
I don’t know if congrats are in order though, maybe for surviving here for so long in a democrat controlled state? ;^)
Take care,
SZ
Good luck there.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.