DEPERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Surprised and upset by an unexpected message in De Pere, Sean Loughney, told FOX 11, ” I think it’s disgusting. It’s not something that you should show as your president whether you like him or not.”
Loughney hopes whoever tagged the railroad bridge along Main Avenue with a swastika next to the name “Trump” learns to express their views in other ways.
“I’m fine with protest. I think you’re allowed to share your views but I think that’s a little on the explicit side and I think it’s just not right to represent anybody with the Nazi sign.”
A resident agreed vandalism isn’t right but is willing to accept the text.
She said, “I don’t like graffiti but I can’t say I disagree with the sign, I don’t know, I don’t know what he is.”
The context wasn’t the only surprising factor; some say it’s unusual to see vandalism in that part of the city at all.
“I just thought it was kind of weird, usually you don’t see that stuff in a not so big city,” Austin Marcks of De Pere said.
George Jackson, another De Pere resident, said he’s seen graffiti on the bridge before but nothing like the current one.
“I’ve definitely seen graffiti on that bridge before, nothing like that offensive though.” Jackson said.
He believes whoever tagged the bridge only did it for fun and not necessarily to convey a message.
“Some kid probably did that and by this point already they probably already forgot about it.”
But whether it’s fun and games or fits someone’s beliefs, residents aren’t welcoming any type of vandalism.
Tommy Maher told FOX 11, “I think we should get rid of that as soon as possible to portray De Pere better.”