A vandal struck the National Mall on Tuesday, scrawling an obscene question on the side of the Washington Monument in bright red paint.
FOX 5 DC’s Katie Barlow shared a photo from the scene, describing what had happened in a Tuesday evening tweet.
“Nightly monument report. Someone has painted the side with red paint,” Barlow said. “There is an individual in cuffs off to the side and police have blocked the area out to the grass.”
https://twitter.com/katieleebarlow/status/1572374338447486978
A closer look at the words that had been scrawled on the side of the monument — which stands 555 feet tall — revealed the question: “Have you been f***ed by this?” followed by a response, “Gov says tough s***.”
A large smear of red paint appeared next to the words as well.
Barlow followed her first tweet with a brief video showing that someone had been detained by law enforcement.
https://twitter.com/katieleebarlow/status/1572375385823940611
“This is why we can’t have nice things. Some freedom loathing scumbag has defaced the Washington Monument with paint and vulgarities,” WUSA9 anchor and reporter Adam Longo added.
This is why we can’t have nice things. Some freedom loathing scumbag has defaced the Washington Monument with paint and vulgarities. @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/xLnk3q4Otv
— Adam Longo (@adamlongoTV) September 21, 2022
“We’ve gathered reaction from folks out here by the Washington Monument who are seeing the paint graffiti that reads ‘Have you been f***ed by this, Gov says tough s***.’ Live at 11pm on @wusa9,” Longo continued in a second tweet. “People asking where were police— one person saying they understand the sentiment.”
Longo followed that with a short video clip showing tourists standing as close to the monument as law enforcement would allow, attempting to get their own photos of the vandalized property.
Tourists taking photos of the vandalism to the Washington Monument. @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/pkdKCxZAdd
— Adam Longo (@adamlongoTV) September 21, 2022
“The USPP has an adult male in custody for vandalizing the base of the Washington Monument with paint. The area at the base of the monument will be temporality closed. National Park Service conservators will work on the restoration process. The investigation is ongoing,” FOX 5 DC’s Allison Papson gave an update.
The USPP has an adult male in custody for vandalizing the base of the Washington Monument with paint. The area at the base of the monument will be temporality closed. National Park Service conservators will work on the restoration process. The investigation is ongoing. #USPP https://t.co/usVHXvjRAn
— Allison Papson (@AllisonPapson) September 21, 2022
The Washington Monument was completed 138 years ago in 1884 — and at the time of its completion, it was the tallest building in the world.