The mayor’s office in Oakland, California, said protesters aimed to “terrorize” the mayor and her family when they vandalized her home this week.
Early Tuesday morning, protesters went to Mayor Libby Schaaf’s home and vandalized it with messages, according to police. The vandalism occurred hours before the mayor voted against defunding the local Police Department.
“This attack, designed to intimidate the mayor and strike fear into her family, will not stop her from advocating for the policies she believes are in the best long-term interests of her beloved hometown,” a spokesperson for the mayor said.
“Like all Oaklanders, she supports passionate protest but does not support tactics meant to harm and terrorize others,” the statement concluded.
Police are now investigating the incident, which left the mayor’s home covered with messages that read, “Blood on your hands,” “Wake up Libby,” and “Defund OPD,” among other messages.
The home of Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf vandalized over night. Fireworks also set off in street. @kron4news pic.twitter.com/sh8IebCEod
— Chuck Clifford (@chuckclifford) July 21, 2020
The group, estimated to be about 30 to 40 people, also reportedly set off fireworks and projectiles during the incident.
The mayor broke a 4-4 Oakland City Council tie on not stripping millions of dollars from the Oakland Police Department.
“Today, council members Kaplan and Bas are proposing a dangerous and irresponsible amendment to that already approved budget. Their proposal would further impair emergency response capabilities, as well as make illusory budget cuts that could throw Oakland into even greater fiscal vulnerability,” Schaaf said of the proposal.
The Oakland City Council approved a budget in June that cut $2.5 million from the police force despite calls to slash it by $25 million.
