TORRINGTON – The growing polarization between the nation’s two major political parties has reached a new battleground: front yards.
Reports of stolen or vandalized yard signs or flags representing both democratic and republican candidates are prevalent on both coasts and the midwest, in swing states and in red or blue strongholds. Torrington is no exception.
Torrington Police Chief Matt Johnson said there were nine reports of stolen or damaged political materials between Aug. 29 and Sept. 2. This doesn’t account for instances that were not reported but were shared on Facebook both to personal profiles and to groups like “You know you’re from Torrington, WY when…”
“It’s not uncommon to see that during election season,” Johnson said. “We do our best to step up patrols and to try to capture evidence that will allow us to hold those folks accountable for making poor choices.”
Not only is this one of the more contentious presidential elections in recent history, but the COVID-19 pandemic also reduces opportunities for supporters from both parties to actively campaign for their candidate. Cue yard signs.
Johnson said most of the incidents reported to TPD concerned flags or signs in support of President Donald Trump’s reelection. But as numerous Facebook users have pointed out, “it goes both ways.
“Do not think for a moment it does not,” one comment reads.
“There was one particular incident where someone wrote some pretty insulting statements about both of the presidential candidates on the sidewalk and made some inappropriate comments related to that,” Johnson said.
Given the attacks on both Trump and Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden, it’s difficult to determine whether these acts are committed by one or several different individuals, Johnson said.
Wyoming Republican Party National Committeeman Corey Steinmetz said several years ago, he had signs supporting a gubernatorial candidate in his pasture north of Lingle that were knocked down twice.
Though these acts occur almost every election cycle and these signs could just be “easy targets” for “youthful energy,” Steinmetz said, “this is perhaps one of the most heated presidential races in my memory.
“I’m certain there are folks who want to express their angst by stealing or destroying signs,” Steinmetz wrote in an email to The Telegram.
Goshen County Democratic Party State Committeewoman Marci Shaver wrote a letter to the editor on Aug. 21 regarding the disappearance of “Biden for President” signs from her yard and those of other supporters.
“I know quite a few folks around here and I’m surprised that any would stoop to such low tactics,” Shaver wrote in the letter.
Since then, she replaced the Biden sign in her yard and added another. She said a neighbor told her they saw a stranger walk toward her property but they fled once they caught sight of someone.
“After mine disappeared, I got a bunch more in and handed them out to people and warned them to have them up on their property so then they’re trespassing,” Shaver said.
It’s hard to imagine in these times of political strife that such attacks are random. A January 2020 Pew Research Center study revealed that 91% of Americans say conflicts between party coalitions are either very strong or strong. Perceived conflict between Democrats and Republicans far outweighs those between other contrasting groups, like Black and white people, rich and poor, young and old or rural residents and city residents.
Though some people on both sides of the aisle have made residential property a new battleground, the situation reveals there are still some topics on which both liberal and conservative Goshen County residents can agree. Destruction and theft of property are not only crimes, but they are also infringing upon Constitutional rights of those choosing to express opinions on their front lawns.
“I think we should respect the right of another person to support political candidates with whom they agree,” Steinmetz said. “You might not like their choice, but it is their choice, so be respectful of others and their property.”
“The last time I checked, the Constitution and the First Amendment are still in force,” Shaver said.
Johnson said TPD is sending out additional night patrols in response to these acts and have deployed motion-activated cameras in places they might be likely to capture evidence.
“I think it’s easy to forget how awesome it is to live in a democracy in a country where we have the freedom to choose our leaders,” Johnson said. “It’s really discouraging to see somebody be disrespectful of that.”
