State College police looking for help finding these ‘persons of interest’ in MLK mural vandalism
State College police released images Monday of three “persons of interest” in connection with the vandalism of the downtown Martin Luther King Jr. mural — and it’s asking the community for help in identifying them.
According to a news release, police are still looking for those responsible for stenciling the name of a white nationalist group in a red substance over part of the mural on Fraser Street. Community members with more information, or those who recognize the individuals in the images, are asked call police at 814-234-7150, email police@statecollegepa.us or submit an anonymous tip online.
In a rare move Friday, when the crime occurred, the police department offered up to a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction of those responsible. (The crime is being investigated as a form of ethnic intimidation.)
“I can assure the community that the SCPD is utilizing every tool available to identify and hold accountable the persons who committed this hate crime,” Assistant Chief Matt Wilson said Friday in a written statement.
State College’s public works employees quickly cleaned up the vandalism upon it being reported Friday. Monday marked the first time any image publicly surfaced of “persons of interest,” in the form of stills from a nearby surveillance camera.
The organization responsible, which the Centre Daily Times has chosen not to rename since the original story, espouses racism, anti-Semitism and intolerance under the guise of preserving the ethnic and cultural origins of their European ancestors, according to the Anti-Defamation League. It is recognized by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a white nationalist hate group.
It’s not the first time the hate group posted propaganda in Centre County.
Less than three days after hundreds of rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol in January, stickers from the group were found in at least 10 locations in State College. That same weekend, a rainbow-colored mural in Bellefonte was also marred by the group.
Late Monday afternoon, several community groups and leaders issued a joint news release condemning the act and reinforcing the area’s commitment to equality and diversity — including Penn State President Eric Barron, borough officials, the Centre County Board of Commissioners, the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, the Downtown State College Improvement District and the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County.
“The Borough of State College has repeatedly worked to make our community welcoming to everyone, and the recent hate-based vandalism shows that there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done,” Barlow wrote. “We are all disgusted to see a treasured local landmark, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza, being defaced. ... We must all join together in speaking out against hate groups like the one that defaced our mural.”
Added Barron: “This vandalism has occurred during a time of ongoing discord and violence in our country, and as university and local community members, we must continue to do all we can to speak out against such hate and to stand up against inequality and injustice.”
CDT reporter Bret Pallotto contributed to this story
This story was originally published April 19, 2021 at 2:02 PM.
