Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts was vandalized over the weekend with red spray paint ahead of a celebration to mark the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims arriving in the New World, reports TV station WHDH.
The National Monument to the Forefathers was also coated with profanity, and the Pilgrim Maiden statue, a memorial granite bench and at least four Scallop Roll statues scattered close by were tagged with paint.
The rock, a national monument inscribed with 1620 to mark the year William Bradford and other pilgrims first set foot on U.S. soil, had been cleaned off as of late Monday afternoon.
“Seeing this type of disrespect for the historic reminders of the Mayflower story is both sad and unsettling,” Lea Filson, the executive director of local tourism agency See Plymouth, said in a statement. “The outpouring of concern and anger over the incident has been a positive ending to a thoughtless gesture.
“As Plymouth commemorates the 400th anniversary of the landing of the Mayflower this year, we have already begun welcoming international and domestic visitors. The waterfront and the historic district are safe, well- lit, and will continue to welcome all who visit.”
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.