Matlacha woman’s Trump sign, art gallery vandalized

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MATLACHA, Fla. – The owner of a Pine Island Road gallery says she woke up to two things Wednesday: Donald Trump as the country’s new president-elect and vandalism of Trump-themed art at her shop.

Five signs, one for each letter, spell out T-R-U-M-P atop Leoma Lovegrove’s pink-and-green building on Pine Island Road. The signs were partially obscured Wednesday morning by what appears to be black spray paint.

Lovegrove, who plans to press charges if the vandals are found, said the signs were going to be sold for charity. She estimates they’re worth a total of about $20,000.

“It’s very scary and it’s — I am really surprised because it’s the third time I’ve been vandalized,” she said.

Lovegrove is hopeful that the surveillance cameras she installed captured images of whomever is responsible, but she vowed not to let what happened to her artwork get her down. A vocal Trump supporter, she celebrated the election results every hour with a spray of confetti and a champagne party.

“It’s not the American way to do something like this. Today is supposed to be a day when it’s over. I am going to be celebrating today. This is going to be a happy day for me,” she said.trump-car-2

A pile of political signs supporting Trump, now scribbled over with profanity-riddled language, were also dumped near her business.

Lee County deputies are investigating.

At least one other Southwest Florida Trump supporter woke up to apparent politically motivated vandalism. Andrew Tang’s car was sprayed with white spray paint that ran through his Trump bumper sticker, license plate and at least two doors outside his Paseo home.

“I’m pretty positive whoever did this is mad that Trump won,” he said.

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