Manatee County law enforcement is investigating a hate crime incident at a historic African American cemetery in Palmetto, located south of Tampa. The Old Memphis Cemetery, established in 1904 for Black residents of the Memphis neighborhood, was found with 17 gravesites damaged and headstones knocked over. The names "Trump," referring to President Donald Trump, and "DeSantis," referring to Gov. Ron DeSantis, were spray-painted in red on the tombs. Detectives believe the vandalism occurred within the past few weeks, and the investigation remains ongoing with no arrests made.
Community Outrage and Official Response
The incident has sparked significant anger among local residents and family members of those interred at the site. Glenn Searls, 77, stated he felt "extreme anger" upon learning of the desecration, noting that several of his family members are buried there. Searls expressed concern that the act was politically motivated, telling Reuters, "When you look and see 'DeSantis' and 'Trump' spray-painted on a vault, it makes you wonder if it's politically motivated, and I tend to believe it is." The White House also issued a statement condemning the incident through spokesman Davis Ingle, who said, "Anyone who engages in this disgusting behavior must be condemned in the harshest terms possible."
Reward Offered for Information
Manatee County Sheriff's Office has offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Additionally, CrimeStoppers of Manatee County is contributing up to $3,000 to the reward fund. Edrena Love Freeman, who visited her father's grave—a World War II veteran who died in 1970—described the damage as "evil" and "not right." Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the vandalism to contact the Manatee County Sheriff's Office at (941) 747-3011. A spokesperson for Gov. DeSantis did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the incident.
