Black cemetery in Florida vandalized, 'Trump' graffitied on graves
Authorities say 17 graves were damaged and some tombstones were spray-painted with political names, while investigators search for suspects and a possible motive.
- Vandals damaged 17 gravesites at the historic Old Memphis Cemetery in Palmetto, Florida, on or before March 2026, spray-painting the names "Donald Trump" and "Ron DeSantis" in red on tombs.
- Established in 1904, the burial ground serves the historic Black Memphis neighborhood, leaving resident Glenn Searls, 77, feeling "extreme anger" at the destruction of family gravesites.
- Headstones were knocked down and concrete structures damaged, while resident Edrena Love Freeman discovered her father's grave moved; authorities confirmed no human remains were disturbed or removed.
- White House spokesman Davis Ingle condemned the incident, stating "anyone who engages in this disgusting behavior must be condemned in the harshest terms possible."
- Authorities are offering up to $4,000 in combined rewards from Manatee County Crime Stoppers and the Gold Star Club for information leading to an arrest, urging the public to contact the Manatee County Sheriff at 941-747-3011.
54 Articles
54 Articles
Black residents outraged in Florida as beloved cemetery vandalized with 'Trump' and 'DeSantis' graffiti
A historically Black cemetery in Florida was vandalized earlier this week, with some gravestones missing and 'Trump' and 'DeSantis' spray-painted on tombs.
Journal Gazette & Times-Courier
Black cemetery in Florida vandalized
PALMETTO, Fla. — 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" spraypainted in red letters on tombs, referring to the U.S. politicians,…
Black America Web
Dead Disrespect: Historically Black Cemetery In Florida Desecrated With Trump And DeSantis Vandalism
Source: jerryhopman / Getty These people don’t respect anything and they damn sure don’t respect Black people. A historic Black cemetery in Palmetto, Florida became the site of an infuriating act of vandalism after 17 graves were desecrated with racist and politically charged messages. According to reporting from The Independent, vandals damaged headstones and spray-painted the names “Trump” and “DeSantis” across several tombs in red at the Old …
Dead Disrespect: Historically Black Cemetary In Flordia Desecrated With 'Trump' And 'DeSantis' Vandalism
Source: jerryhopman / Getty These people don’t respect anything and they damn sure don’t respect Black people. A historic Black cemetery in Palmetto, Florida became the site of an infuriating act of vandalism after 17 graves were desecrated with racist and politically charged messages. According to reporting from The Independent, vandals damaged headstones and spray-painted the names “Trump” and “DeSantis” across several tombs in red at the Old …
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