Va. woman says she is victim of 'political hate crime' after Trump signs stolen, home vandalized

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Are Donald Trump supporters facing retaliation by his political opponents? A Northern Virginia woman is wondering just that after her home was vandalized and her Donald Trump signs were stolen from her front yard.

You would think we could all agree the First Amendment gives you the right to support whoever you want for president. But on Judy Beaty's home Tuesday night, these words were spray-painted on the front and side of her house: "Can you see the new world through the tear gas" and "Revolution."

In addition, her Trump for President signs were taken off her front lawn.

She said she and her family are victims of what she describes as a "political hate crime."

"I think they are kind of concerned, but it's just one of those situations where you just feel like you are being violated," said Beaty. "Your rights are being violated. You can't put a Trump sign in your yard anymore?"

Beaty found the vandalism at 6 a.m. Wednesday morning. When she looked out her window, she saw her two Trump lawn signs were missing. And when she walked outside, she turned around shocked to find the black spray-painted message across the front of her house.

Prince William County police said they are investigating the incident and are hoping someone comes forward with tips.

The message was painted near the bedroom where she was sleeping, and a metal crowbar was left stuck in the ground.

Last week, Beaty said she had three Trump lawn signs stolen.

The 69-year-old woman said that while this entire incident has left her shaking, she is standing strong in her support of Trump's presidential campaign. She said she is not going to be bullied or intimidated, and is going to keep exercising her First Amendment right to free speech.

"No, I am not backing down," she said. "I'm putting up a larger sign. I'm probably going to go buy some more signs and put them up. But I just want to do this to show them they are not going to stop me as early as possible."

The first thing Beaty did after filing a police report was head down to a sign shop and put down $26 of her own money to have a custom "Trump 2016" sign made up that is even bigger than the ones that were stolen.

She is also installing a security camera in case somebody tries this again.