A Florida Republican Party office was vandalized Sunday, with the message “Eat s*** fascists” painted on its windows and its doors glued shut, according to officials.
The Seminole County Republican Party reported the incident to the police, and so far, no suspects have been identified. The Republican Party of Florida quickly pinned the blame for the attack on heated rhetoric from Democrats accusing the GOP of extremism. Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel also noted that “the criminals echoed Biden’s ‘fascists’ slander.”
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“1. Crist says DeSantis supporters ‘have hate in their heart’ 2. Biden calls Republicans semi-fascist The results? Dangerous Democrat rhetoric is polarizing our country and inciting criminal behavior,” the Florida GOP tweeted.
The graffiti-laced message contained a circle-A, a symbol for anarchy.
The Seminole County GOP discovered the vandalism Monday. Due to the adhesive substance on the door’s front locks, they had to enter the building from the back, according to GOP State Committeeman Jesse Phillips.
“We couldn’t get in from the front. We had to break in from the back,” Phillips told Fox News. “The intimidation is shameful. … Hopefully, this is the last of it.”
While there were cameras inside the building, there were no cameras on the exterior to identify the individual or individuals responsible, according to Philips. No one managed to breach the building, he added.
“The @seminolegop will not be intimidated by the fascists posing as anti-fascists. The Republican Party is the party of life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness while putting #AmericaFirst,” the Seminole County GOP tweeted in response to the attack.
The @seminolegop will not be intimidated by the fascists posing as anti-fascists.
The Republican Party is the party of life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness while putting #AmericaFirst https://t.co/eZg2ET4Ttn
— Seminole County GOP (@seminolegop) August 29, 2022
Last week, President Joe Biden stirred up controversy by likening parts of the “MAGA philosophy” to “semi-fascism” during a fundraiser.
“What we’re seeing now is either the beginning or the death knell of an extreme MAGA philosophy,” Biden said, per a pool report. “It’s not just Trump; it’s the entire philosophy that underpins the — I’m going to say something, it’s like semi-fascism,” he added of former President Donald Trump and his supporters.
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Democratic gubernatorial contender Charlie Crist, who defended Biden’s remarks, also sparked controversy last week by telling supporters of Gov. Ron DeSantis he doesn’t want their vote.
“Those who support the governor should stay with him and vote for him. I don’t want your vote. If you have that hate in your heart — keep it,” he said.
Crist walked back his comments, stressing in a later interview that he “will leave no voter behind” in his uphill battle against DeSantis.
