The dead pig was left at the entrance of the Republican Party headquarters on Highland Avenue in Manhattan Beach early Thursday morning. Manhattan Beach Police Animal Control has since removed the carcass. PHOTO BY ESTHER KANG
Just two days after Election Day, a dead pig clad in a blue Mitt Romney T-shirt was found early Thursday on the doorstep of the local Republican Party headquarters in Manhattan Beach.
According to ABC7, passersby noticed the carcass as early as 6:30 a.m. on the sidewalk in front of the building, which is located on Highland Avenue and 40th Street. One witness told the news outlet that the pig’s head was cut in half and wrapped in barbed wire.
Manhattan Beach Police Animal Control later removed the carcass and took it in as evidence in the investigation.
Manhattan Beach detective Mike Rosenberger said police will handle this case as an improper disposal of carcass or illegal dumping of trash at this point, dismissing the notion that a hate crime was committed.
“Does it have to do with disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation?” Rosenberger said. “Everyone needs to take a breath and look up the definition of a hate crime and realize that ain’t it … To my knowledge, there’s no other crime.”
Bob Holmes, the district chairman and former city mayor, said that the politically motivated incident is not an anomaly, as the Manhattan Beach office has suffered similar cases in the past.
“It simply is another unfortunate case of vandalism that we’ve suffered over the years,” Holmes said. “It’s just a shame that those who disagree with us can’t engage in a civil discourse and stake their position in the way that we’d like to think democracy works.”
In December of 2007, the headquarters saw its front windows covered with anti-war, anti-Republican posters.
However, Holmes said his party remains undeterred by such acts of vandalism.
“We’ll continue to represent our views and our philosophy and hopefully our opponents can find a more legal, mature way to express their disagreement,” he said.
Tony Hales, a local Democratic party leader, called the vandalism a ”repugnant act” and offered condolences to his Republican counterparts.
“This kind of behavior has no place in our political debate and should be condemned by both sides,” Hales wrote in a statement. “I don’t know anyone in our local Democratic community who has ever shown any inclination toward such actions. Although it is easy to assume a partisan motivation for this disgusting stunt, we should not jump to conclusions. This is likely to be the exploit of an individual who is not fully involved in the political process.”
Good Grief! What kind of person kills an animal to make a political point? Sick even if you don’t agree with Republicans.
Once again, Liberals show us who they really are.
This was the act of one sick person. Not a coordinated effort of half the country.
Exactly. This is horrible.
Not a hate crime??? Seriously? It’s not okay to commite a crime directed toward a person’s nationality, sexual orientation and so on…but political views are ok. Good grief. I’m more embarrassed by this country by the hour:/
What a waste. They could have had a hog roast instead.
Well the pig was wearing a Romney tee shirt. Clearly this was a conservative on conservative crime.
I wouldn’t be surprised that a republican did this to make people feel sorry for them…
As a local Democratic Party leader, I unconditionally
condemn the repugnant act perpetrated at the Manhattan Beach Republican
headquarters today.
This kind of behavior has no place in our political debate
and should be condemned by both sides.
I don’t know anyone in our local Democratic community who
has ever shown any inclination toward such actions. Although it is easy to assume a partisan motivation for this
disgusting stunt, we should not jump to conclusions. This is likely to be the exploit of an individual who is not
fully involved in the political process.
I wish to console my Republican counterparts and assure them
that our organizations do not condone or foster that kind of behavior.
I am asking everyone, do not allow the bad behavior of one
individual to lower civility for the rest of us. Let’s accept our differences and work together to improve our
country.
Tony Hale
Executive Board Member
California Democratic Party
South Bay Area
Of course you wouldn’t. Far be it from a Lefty to admit that one of their own might have done something so loathsome. Perhaps the perpetrator was a millionaire, a billionaire, a corporate jet owner or maybe even Gov. Romney himself! Sheeesh!!!
This may not be a hate crime technically, but it is a hateful, hurtful crime nonetheless. The outrage should be no different.
That’s a higher purpose than what most animals are slaughtered for.
Well, I must say, it certainly suits the likes of Carl Rove, Rush Limbaugh, and Sheldon Adelson. It is not a disgusting stunt. The pig had been slaughtered by a meat processor, and if it is not consumed by human, it will extend the life of many.
I am a Democrat and find this act to be profoundly disturbing. I’m sure that all of my friends, including Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, join me in a sincere hope that political interactions move towards transparency and respectful disagreement to solve the complicated issues we face today! Let’s let the police conduct their investigation.
it’s just the New Civility™ we’ve heard so much about.
As a Democrat and a citizen, I’m ashamed of a fellow American who disgraces him/her self with such behavior. Whoever you are, please make an effort to grow up. Drakefolks