Black cemetery in Florida vandalized, 'Trump' graffitied on graves
Manatee County officials are coordinating repairs as investigators seek a suspect in the cemetery vandalism, which left 17 graves damaged, deputies said.
- On Tuesday, deputies documented vandalism at Old Memphis Cemetery in Palmetto, Fla., where 17 gravesites at the 122-year-old burial ground were damaged with cracked concrete and red spray paint.
- Red spray paint displaying the names "Trump" and "Ron DeSantis" covered multiple tombstones, while concrete graves appeared cracked open throughout the burial ground.
- "It's evil, messing with death," Xtavia Bailey said. Tracey Washington, president of the Manatee County NAACP, added she is "outraged and furious" regarding the destruction.
- No arrests have been made, and detectives continue investigating the site. Washington emphasized that residents demand accountability, stating, "We need to find out who did this."
- Manatee County officials are coordinating with a specialized contractor to assess and repair the damaged gravesites as soon as possible, while evaluating additional security measures.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Black cemetery in Florida vandalized, 'Trump' spray-painted on graves
Police in Florida are investigating vandalism at a historic, predominantly African American cemetery where 17 gravesites were damaged, with headstones knocked down and "Trump" and "DeSantis" spray-painted in red letters on tombs, referring to the U.S. politicians, Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
The Scoop: Wed. May 13, 2026 Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF
Manatee County launches investigation after families find 17 gravesites vandalized in an historic cemetery The cemetery is 120 years old and is tightly associated with the local Black community. Officers found the words “Trump” and “Ron DeSantis” spray-painted on some graves, while others were damaged and the headstones broken. USDA now requires retailers accepting food stamps to carry more “real” food Stores must now carry seven varieties of it…
Historic Palmetto cemetery vandalized with graffiti, 17 graves damaged: 'It's evil, it hurts really bad'
A historic cemetery in Palmetto is now at the center of a disturbing vandalism investigation after families discovered damaged graves and graffiti across the property.
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