Hmong Cultural Center Museum hit with white supremacist vandalism
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Police are investigating after vandals damaged the front of the Hmong Cultural Center Museum in St. Paul early Wednesday morning and spray-painted a slogan associated with a white supremacist group.
The museum recently expanded its exhibits on Hmong culture, history and contributions to the United States. It was about to hold a grand opening.
But program director Mark Pfeifer says vandals hit the University Avenue storefront with white paint and covered over anti-racist poetry written on plywood protecting the windows.
“I think we're going to have to get a new sign for our museum, so that's $800 maybe. And there was some damage to the lock, too,” Pfeifer said.
The vandals also left a stencil reading “life, liberty, victory” — a slogan connected to the fascist group Patriot Front.
Pfeifer says security video shows three people getting out of a vehicle and vandalizing the building at around 3:40 a.m. They also damaged neighboring Hmong businesses.
“They came in one car together, and they all came out at the same time and started spraying, and it lasted a couple of minutes, but they did a lot,” Pfeifer said. “It's a big mess.”
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