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-Lurid Crime Tales-
Swastikas, 'Fascist' Painted On Campaign Signs
2010-07-15
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Sixth district congressional candidate Lou Ann Zelenik received death threats and a nationwide outcry after she opposed a Rutherford County Islamic Center last month. Now, someone has targeted some of her campaign signs with a paint can.

Robert Stroop is a Zelenik supporter. He said he was shocked to find the sign outside a building he owns spray-painted with swastikas and the word "fascist," meaning a dictator or having nationalist political ideology.

"This sign is here for a purpose, just like the one across the street with the other candidate is, and it's not the country I was raised in and believe in," Stroop said.

The Zelenik sign in the front yard of the home Stroop owns on Greenland Avenue was also vandalized over the weekend.

"I think it's just the world we're living in today, and I'm really disappointed," said Stroop.

Campaign workers found out about the defaced signs Sunday. They filed a report with Murfreesboro police.

"She is very disappointed that people, you know, would do this kind of behavior. It's very disheartening to see that in a political campaign," said Jay Heine, Zelenik's campaign manager.

This isn't the first time Zelenik has had to call police. Last month, she received death threats at her campaign office and at home after she issued a statement about the proposed Islamic Center in Rutherford County.

"This Islamic Center is not part of a religious movement; it is a political movement designed to fracture the moral and political foundation of Middle Tennessee," Zelenik wrote in a statement.

Zelenik's campaign manager said after they reported the death threats to police, no more have been received. Now, they're dealing with the vandalism.

"It tells a little bit about maybe the characters and stuff involved in the issues and stuff in this campaign," Heine said.
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