{"id":435,"date":"2026-05-13T19:01:45","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T19:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=435"},"modified":"2026-05-13T19:01:45","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T19:01:45","slug":"trump-and-desantis-graffiti-among-vandalism-at-historic-florida-cemetery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=435","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Trump\u2019 and \u2018DeSantis\u2019 graffiti among vandalism at historic Florida cemetery"},"content":{"rendered":"<article><!-- --><!-- --><!-- WPS-5038 -- removed the script from WPS and added the placeholder for trinity player --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><span>Bradenton<\/span><!-- --><!-- --><!-- CONTENT --><!--[--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Broken headstones, damaged graves and spray-painted graffiti now mark a historic Florida cemetery after vandals targeted the site, according to investigators.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=433\">Miami teacher accused of groping student will be freed and put on house arrest<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>The Manatee County Sheriff\u2019s Office is investigating vandalism at Old Memphis Cemetery in Palmetto, where deputies say 17 grave sites were damaged with broken and knocked-down headstones, graffiti and damaged concrete.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Officials said the vandalism is in the section of the cemetery maintained by Manatee County government Some headstones were knocked over or broken, and some had been spray-painted with \u201cTrump\u201d and \u201cRon DeSantis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Detectives said evidence indicates at least some of the grave sites were damaged and defaced with spray paint \u201cduring or before\u201d March, according to the sheriff\u2019s office.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>The sheriff\u2019s office said investigators have found no indication that any human remains were removed from the grave sites.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<h2>Historic Palmetto cemetery vandalized, deputies say<\/h2>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Old Memphis Cemetery is tied to Palmetto\u2019s historic Memphis neighborhood, which was originally plotted in 1904, according to a state historical marker at the site. The marker says the cemetery became the final resting place of many Black residents, many of whom worked in the area\u2019s farming fields, groves and packing houses. The cemetery came under the care of Manatee County in 1988, according to the marker.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=432\">State planning to wind down and close Alligator Alcatraz in coming weeks<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Manatee officials say they are now working to repair the damaged gravesites.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe county is currently coordinating with a specialized contractor to assess and repair the damaged grave sites and is also evaluating additional security measures for the area,\u201d Manatee County government spokesperson Michael Strollo told the Bradenton Herald in an email. \u201cRepairs are expected to be scheduled as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>The investigation remains active and no arrests have been made, according to the sheriff\u2019s office.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to contact investigators at 941-747-3011. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Manatee County Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS or through ManateeCrimeStoppers.com, where tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>CrimeStoppers of Manatee County is offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information leading to an arrest, while the Gold Star Club of Manatee County is offering an additional $1,000 reward, according to the sheriff\u2019s office.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=430\">Recall effort fails against Miami-Dade\u2019s Democratic mayor<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Investigators probe vandalism at Old Memphis Cemetery in Palmetto after 17 graves suffered broken headstones, graffiti reading Trump and DeSantis, and concrete damage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":434,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - 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