CARMEL – A large replica of the Declaration of Independence displayed outside the historic Putnam County Courthouse in Carmel has been defaced.
County Executive Kevin Byrne reported Tuesday that the incident occurred on July 4, when local law enforcement discovered the display had been damaged with political graffiti.
The replica was unveiled during Putnam’s Heroes: Battle the Redcoats demonstration, where hundreds of people signed it to affirm America’s founding ideals. It was later displayed during the return of the restored Sybil Ludington statue and remained on exhibit through Independence Day.
The vandals destroyed the document by writing several slogans on it, including “500 years genocide”, “Free USA”, “Free Palestine”, “Stop Genocide”, “Stop ICE”, and “Abolish Millionaires.”
Once the graffiti was discovered the Putnam Historian’s Office removed the display and the matter was referred to law enforcement for further investigation. Security footage from law enforcement personnel, along with surveillance cameras monitoring the courthouse are being reviewed to help verify the identities of those responsible.
Byrne called the Declaration of Independence “our nation’s founding document. Regardless of political beliefs, it deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Every American enjoys the constitutional right to free speech, but intentionally defacing a public display created for families to celebrate our history and heritage is not an act of civic engagement; it is an act of gross disrespect.”
The executive has secured a new replica of the Declaration of Independence, and it will be available for residents to sign during the Putnam Lake America 250 Parade this weekend and at the Putnam County Fair later this month.
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