By FITSNews || The curious case of Columbia, South Carolina’s elusive, anonymous (and racist) vandal just keeps gettin’ weirder, folks …
In addition to absolutely no one witnessing the spray-painting of racist graffiti onto Columbia’s City Hall last month (or at least no one who has come forward yet), security cameras appear to have failed to capture any images that might be useful in identifying the perpetrator.
That’s what city officials are telling FITS, anyway, which has some people starting to question whether or not the whole thing was an elaborate hoax.
“You (are) trying to say in a major metropolitan area, (in) the middle of the city, someone can just waltz up to the most public building around and do that?” a veteran city political observer mockingly inquired to FITS. “Please.”
“No one’s gonna get caught red-handed here because they’ve washed their hands already,” the observer added. “And besides, nobody’s looking for them!”
The racist graffiti was discovered on the morning of December 30, and Mayor Bob Coble and members of City Council gathered within hours to publicly condemn its message. Later that same day, Columbia attorney and mayoral candidate Steve Benjamin – whom the graffiti ostensibly targeted – held his own press conference to publicly condemn its message.
What did the graffiti say?
No n*gger mayor die
Classy, huh?
Benjamin is black, in case you were wondering.
City of Columbia officials – responding to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by FITS last week – said that there are no city security cameras covering the area of the building that was vandalized.
They also suggested that cameras operated by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court (located on the same downtown city block) did not capture any usable images, either, although they added that it was highly unlikely that the feds’ footage would ever be released to the public.
FITS has yet to hear back from U.S. Bankruptcy Court regarding a separate FOIA request.
Stay tuned …
By Journey1 February 8, 2010 at 7:40 pm
This is not unusual.It happened overnight during the Holidays. Why would there have been witnessess? Downtown Cola is a ghost town after 5 on any given day, esp by the Courts and City Hall.Yes, U can spray paint a gov’t building at night and noone see it.Crime of all kind happens at night in this City, with no witnesses-and no coverup is behind it.
By Another Opinion February 8, 2010 at 8:03 pm
No security cams caught anything?
By BIN News Editorial Staff February 8, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Here is a picture of who done it.
The Ghost of Christmas Future. Or, is that really sic(k) willie dressed like a Midlands’ elected official with a Strom problem. Hard to tell.
http://www.choosy-beggars.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/ghost_christmas_future.jpg
By R February 9, 2010 at 1:27 am
I’m highly suspicious of this event. Everyone else in Columbia government is black so why would some one be upset about the potential for a black mayor? Given that Benjamin hired his campaign manager from the Obama campaign-it would not surprise me one bit if this was one of their campaign activities in order to attract media attention to themselves and stir up the black voters to come out and vote give Columbia a black mayor.
By Ynotfirst February 9, 2010 at 6:43 am
so they’re saying someone could walk up with an explosive device, set it down and never be caught too right?
By beentook2 February 9, 2010 at 8:07 am
Sgt. Schultz was on duty during that period of time. He later wrote in his report, “I hear nothing, I see nothing, I know nothing!”
In fact that has become the new sign over the entrance door to the Chief’s office.
By Journey1 February 9, 2010 at 8:09 am
To R: Everyone else in City govt is not Black. We have had a white mayor for 20 yrs. The black city manager was disliked and so r the black council members, esp by whites.So I do not see love and acceptance in this City by whites.What does Obama’s people have to do with anything? U must b thinking of McCain and his rallies of “kill him!”
By Toyota Kawaski February 9, 2010 at 9:06 am
Right on target R