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‘It’s very upsetting’: Longwood family’s Black Lives Matter poster stolen, defaced with hate speech

LONGWOOD, Fla. — The family said thieves stole their yard signs supporting Black Lives Matter, vandalized them, and screamed hate speech outside their home.

“Sometimes we feel kind of isolated, and I feel like I need to offer our support,” John, who asked for his last name not to be used, said. “We want to offer support for you’re just inclusiveness and kindness, and just being good to your neighbors.”

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The sign was in front of their home for nearly two months. This past weekend, their home security camera captured video of a van pull up to the house with a man and woman inside. The man got out of the back of the van, took the sign and then got back in the van.

At one point in the video, you can hear one of them shout the “N-word” before they drive off.

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Samantha, who lives in the home, said she received a call from her neighbor the next day saying they found the sign a half-mile away with hate speech written on it.

“It’s very upsetting,” she said. “I really, I was hopeful that kind of racism wouldn’t be present.”

The couple hopes someone recognizes the two people involved, who they believe might be teenagers, and educates them.



Jeff Levkulich

Jeff Levkulich, WFTV.com

Jeff Levkulich joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in June 2015.

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.