This presidential election proved to be very ugly, with taunts and insults lobbed from both sides and an outcome that has rattled many Americans. But the aftermath is particularly unpleasant for Chris Merdon, who found that someone had spray-painted “Trump 2016” several times across his Ellicott City business sometime in the last day.
Merdon runs Carroll Farm-to-Table, situated on a historic property on Manor Lane once owned by Charles Carrollton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. His farm raises hogs, chicken and cattle, and the they sell the meat right there at the stand.
Merdon, reached today by phone, said the act of vandalism likely happened between 5:30 p.m. last night and 7 a.m. this morning. He was surprised to find the crude red script painted across the business’ stand and sign today.
“Obviously, we’re disappointed that somebody expressed their political displeasure on our business,” he said.
WBAL Radio reports that Merdon is a former Republican councilman in Howard County. But the businessman said his property contained no political signage that would have provoked such an action. “We’re a non-political business,” he said.
While the discovery was bad, the damage is even worse. Merdon said that while the farm stand will be easy enough to paint over, the sign will cost between $2,000 and $3,000 to replace.
Today, he and the rest of the stand’s operators are waiting for the rain to dry before they can start painting.
While many are reeling from the fact that Donald Trump will be holding our nation’s highest office come January, Merdon said the name is not what matters most.
“People have been asking us whether they believe it’s Trump or Clinton supporters,” he said. “To us, it doesn’t matter if it was Clinton or Trump. We’re just very concerned that someone in our community would express their views this way.”
[contextly_auto_sidebar]
You seriously believe it could have been a Clinton supporter? What an odd thing to ask. Perhaps it was a Clinton supporter who stole my Clinton driveway sign. That would make as much sense.