The mayor of Oakland, California, is accusing protesters who spray-painted Black Lives Matter messages on her home of "terrorizing" her and her family.
According to KGO-TV, around 30 to 40 protesters dressed in black vandalized Mayor Libby Schaaf's (D) house early Tuesday morning. The vandals fired projectiles and firecrackers and spray-painted messages on Schaaf's stone wall, sidewalk and garage door. The messages included "Defund OPD," "homes 4 all," and "blood on your hands."
Schaaf spokesman Justin Berton gave a statement condemning the actions of the vandals.
"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," he said.
"Like all Oaklanders, she supports passionate protest but does not support tactics meant to harm and terrorize others," he concluded.
"Last night we sent a wake up call to Libby and a call for action to the whole Bay Area. We left a note on her garage, and treated her to a nice fireworks display and the musical notes of pots and pans and assorted noisemakers," the message said.
They added, "Our message to Libby and other elected officials is simple: You have the power to take the boot off our necks - so we have the duty to struggle against you until that boot is lifted. You can't hide from your responsibility!"