| Graffiti
Found Outside Minuteman's Home |
By Erin E. Fogg 
Observer Staff Writer |
| When Herndon Minutemen leader George Taplin awoke Sunday
morning to retrieve the newspaper outside his home, he discovered
graffiti spray painted on the sidewalk next to his driveway.
|
| The words "Love Sees No Borders" appeared under a heart-shaped
globe, and next to that image, the words "No One Is Illegal."
The graffiti appeared to have been spray painted through a
stencil. |
| Taplin said it was the first time he has been the target
of such an incident, and he is holding responsible the operators
of the day labor site and their supporters. |
| "This is exactly the same slogan that Reston Interfaith
and HEART have been using since their inception," he said.
|
| Taplin e-mailed the image to several media representatives
on Monday, stating, "The 'official' work center has been open
for just over a month, and already we in the neighborhoods
next to the site are being subjected to increased crime. How
large will this problem be before the advocates try to resolve
it?" |
| The logo used in materials distributed by Herndon Embraces
All with Respect and Tolerance is a heart outlining two embracing
hands. |
| However, a Sunnyvale, Calif.-based organization known as
Love Sees No Borders, which advocates for gay Americans and
their foreign-born partners, uses a logo nearly identical
to the image spray painted outside Taplin's home. |
| Marta Donayre, Love Sees No Borders co-founder, said her
organization is located in California, does not have chapters
across the country, and does not have an activist membership
base. Donayre said that while she is aware of the national
Minuteman group and opposes its activities, she is entirely
unfamiliar with the Herndon area. |
| "Although we may sympathize with the emotions of the people
who used our organizational name and logo to make a personal
statement, we disagree with their methods in defacing private
property and utilizing our logo without our permission," she
said. |
| As a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual community,
Donayre said she understands what it is like to be attacked
by those who disagree with her positions and likewise would
have a strong reaction if she were victim to such an act of
vandalism. |
| "As LGBT people we despise being attacked by people who
disagree with who we are," she said. "Likewise, we should
not attack those we do not agree with. This is no way to build
understanding among all peoples." |
| Taplin said he reported the incident to the Herndon police.
However, since he could only provide a group of people he
suspected of being responsible for the crime, and no specific
individuals, the case has hit a dead-end. |
