Vandals deface Vietnam war memorial (New Haven, CT : MS-13 reference)

WTNH.com New Haven ^ | December 30, 2007 | Carolee Salerno

[LurkedLongEnough]

New Haven (WTNH) _ Veterans are outraged that a war memorial in New Haven has been vandalized.

The Vietnam War Memorial at Long Wharf was spray painted with the threatening words "Kill whites MS 13."

Seeing this just crushed the veterans we spoke to. The names on that wall that are covered in paint, are the names of those who fought and died for this country in the Vietnam War. Tonight, police are investigating whether this is the work of a violent street gang, but the veterans we spoke to, say whoever they are, aren't as tough as they might think.

"This irks me. This hurts me deep to my heart," Vietnam Veteran Emery Linton Sr. said.

Linton looked in disgust at the graffiti covering New Haven County's Vietnam War Memorial at Long Wharf.

Linton, who served in the Army, fought in Vietnam from 1969 to 1972. He lost friends there and he says the mess, on a memorial to honor veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, is a slap in the face.

"People here respect these names. They gave their lives for everything, for the freedoms they have," Linton said.

Whoever did it sprayed "MS-13" all over the place. According to law enforcement, MS 13 is a violent international gang with roots in El Salvador. Members are involved in drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and even human trafficking and their presence is growing in the U-S. Just this summer, police in the Boston area did a big round-up of MS 13 gang members.

That said, New Haven police say there hasn't been any documented MS-13 activity so far in the city. But they are investigating this incident.

"I don't know who would want to do this," said Lori Grenfell, another veteran who is heart broken over the vandalism. "They have the right to say what they want to say. They can thank these guys for that right."

While it's unclear if these are true gang markings, Linton has a message for those responsible. "If it is a gang related thing and if you guys really think you're bad, join the service, get in the action and see what it's really like," Linton said.

It's unclear how much money it will cost to get rid of this paint, but members of the New Haven County Vietnam Veterans Group vow they will have it cleaned up.

[gunnersmatePCF12]

I agree with you. I would bet that this was done by a
bunch of middle/upper class white kids trying to act like tuff guys. Just my opinion. Is there a cleanup fund we can donate to?

[stbdside]

Probably the work of some libtard college guy trying to stir up a hornet’s nest.

[Historix]

I live in a Los Angeles suburb and atypical gang graffiti is never that clearly written. Perhaps its different on the East Coast?

[Yorlik803]

yes, if they are proud of thier spanish roots, why did they write in English. Also, why deface a momument that might have the names of Hispanics.
Most likely it was the Daily Kos and thier minions. It seems like their handiwork and the type of BS they would get thier rocks off doing.

[Calpernia]

>>>I wonder why the silence after so many references pre-2006?

Exactly. Bump.

[13Sisters76]

Foul, despicable, dirty little cretins...

Have we had enough, already?

[do the dhue]

Connecticut ping

[snippy_about_it]

Here are two places that might be able to direct your contributions. It’s all I could find on local chapters. I’m sure there are other VV groups around but this is all I could find quickly.

Contact VVA

Locate Your Local VVA Chapter

VVA CHAPTER #251
203-877-9307
vva251@snet.net
New Haven
Milford, CT 06460-0247

VVA CHAPTER #484
2034668387
vvanewsct@comcast.net
New Haven
E. Haven, CT 06512-

[montag813]

That said, New Haven police say there hasn't been any documented MS-13 activity so far in the city

There was a brazen murder of a downtown Hispanic merchant earlier this year, and a recent drive-by shooting of a Hispanic male on Ella DeGrasso Blvd. Did aliens commit those crimes?

[montag813]

Seems to me this was the work of black punks, who DO talk about killing Whitey, and who would benefit greatly if police focused on Hispanics instead of black gangs, who commit by far most of the crime in New Haven.

[DGHoodini]

I agree...and if these are posers, pretending to be MS13...they better pray nobody ever finds out who they are... *especially* *real* MS13 gang members.

[raybbr]

I agree...and if these are posers, pretending to be MS13...they better pray nobody ever finds out who they are... *especially* *real* MS13 gang members.

If what you are suggesting is true the here's to hoping they fing out.

[yorkie]

As soon as I saw the picture, I knew it was not MS-13 - before I even read the posts. They use goth-gothic style of letters in their tagging. (Just what I have read. I’m no expert, fer sure.)

[DGHoodini]

Fact #1 MS13 likes to keep a low profile, unless they are sending a message, and their history is that they send their messeges using burned and mutilated bodies...Not with spray cans.

Fact #2 MS13 isn’t going to take kindly to being “misrepresented” especially so publicly, bringing heat down on them, as they are investigated for this wussie vandalism.

Even if the police catch them first...there’s likely a contingent of MS13 members in any prison the perp(s) get sent to.

So, i figure, if it ever comes out who did it, I figure it’s only a matter of time. They might as well have run over a Mafia Bosses kid, when they tagged the memorial with MS13’s initials.

[samson1097]

Factual error in the article:

“According to law enforcement, MS 13 is a violent international gang with roots in El Salvador.”

The gang was started in LA by Salvadorian refugees. It then gained root in El Salvador when gang members from LA were deported back to their country. (Somehow they got back into the USA, believe it or not.)

[BenLurkin]

Good point!

[Albion Wilde]

As soon as I saw the picture, I knew it was not MS-13 - before I even read the posts. They use goth-gothic style of letters in their tagging. (Just what I have read. I’m no expert, fer sure.)

I agree; the style of the writing is an immediate clue. It doesn't look particularly like the Afro-American tagging I'm familiar with, either. I'm going with the white commie antiwar protester scumbag theory.

[DesScorp]

Even money says white kids did this to cause a stir.

[nothingnew]

The only good thing about New Haven CT is Wooster Street, Pepe's and Sally's. IF they're still there...it's been a long time...)

FMCDH(BITS)

[Cindy]

What doesn’t smell right is the way the graffiti was written.

Usually the target is specific, ie “Kill Gangbanger X” and then the sign (in various formats of MS13 (or whatever gang) written after that.

To show disrespect, you cross out the grafitti.

Let’s see if we can find a good example in Google images.

Here’s one wall that was tagged in Belgrade and another wall that was tagged in a jail/prison by various gangbangers:

http://www.ofb.net/~epstein/sl/0406/20040616-graf.jpg

http://www.nancarrow-webdesk.com/warehouse/storage2/2007-w44/img.56128_t.jpg