'Dump Trump' Sign Leads To Vandalism Of Plainfield Property

PLAINFIELD, IL — With Election Day drawing close and the country in a state of turmoil, a Plainfield resident decided to display a bold message in her yard. However, those with dissenting views not only called the cops on her for doing so, but also vandalized her property.

"I have never been a person to display my political viewpoints in my yard with signs for or against a candidate at any level, federal, state, etc. But this year it is not about making a political stance, it's making a moral stance," Sarah Rinehard said. "I decided this year I wanted to have a voice, small, but have one nonetheless. With that voice I chose to be bold in my message."

She hung two flags on a 20-foot pole situated on her property in the Three Rivers Church territory in unincorporated Plainfield. The one that hung highest was the American flag; but since the country is in distress, civil unrest and danger, she said she chose to hang it upside down.

Below that was another flag that said "Dump Trump, Make American Great Again."

The day after the flags were hoisted, two people knocked on Rinehard's door, telling her that it was disrespectful and hanging the flag upside down was illegal. That day, many neighbors brought out their American flags and hung them right-side up, and one of them days later hung a "Trump 2020" flag on his flag pole.

"This same neighbor also called the police on me for how my flag was displayed, to which when the officer arrived, made me aware that he was just doing his job and making sure I am OK, but would never tell me to take it down," she said.

Rinehard said she was not discouraged because she also saw the positive impact her message was having. Several people stopped their cars outside her house and told her they wished they could do something like that, or said that the message brought them "some hope and comfort."

"It was a message of solidarity rather than pride," Rinehard said.

But on the morning of Oct. 4, her flag pole was pulled out of its base and the American flag was stolen. She immediately went to the store and bought several other flags and hung them on each corner of her home.

"I was not going to be silenced, and I wanted my message to still be present should theft occur again," she said.

A week later on Oct. 11, Rinehard said she noticed a little after midnight that her flag pole was missing.

"I went outside, and my flag pole was laying on the lawn, both flags still attached. It had been sawed off at the base," she said. "The last time I saw my flag pole upright was a little after 9 p.m. So it's a very small time frame."

Rinehard persevered in her attempts to make her voice heard and put up a sign that read "My father served in the U.S. Army for 30 years, so I can exercise my First Amendment rights." She also installed a security camera and a second flag pole fashioned with another American flag turned upside down, and another flag that read "Pro America, Anti Trump."

In addition to the theft and damage, neighbors and their grown children have driven by her home, she said, honking their horns and "flipping off my house."

"I informed the Plainfield police of both incidents — on both occasions the officers made me aware that this is 'typical'. It's an election year and it happens all the time," Rinehard said. "To which I responded with disbelief. I never thought people were really that off their rockers to vandalize someone's home because of something so small."

She said she has lived in Plainfield for three years and has never seen anything like this. She also had many Halloween decorations, but they were not tampered with in any way.

Speaking on behalf of the Plainfield Police Department, Commander Anthony Novak told Patch that "the number of incidents similar to this one is very uncommon" in the village. However, he also said he does not believe there is any substantial increase of incidents from the last presidential election in 2016.

Even though Rinehard told the officers about possible suspects, there was no concrete proof such as a video footage. The police may not have been able to make any arrests, but they did keep watch around her house this past weekend, she said.

"For now, in addition to my security footage, I take both poles down at night, and put them back up in the morning. I also asked for Plainfield police to increase their presence in my neighborhood since this seems to be a reoccurring problem," she said. "And either the very noticeable camera, the weather and their presence played a part in nothing happening this past weekend, or they have realized I won't be silenced."

Novak said every person has the right to place signs, which are protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, on their property.

"In regard to specific situations, if a resident has an issue or is experiencing problems, we always encourage them to contact our police department. We try our best to investigate any incident and identify anyone responsible. Oftentimes, we also become familiar of ongoing issues and conduct extra patrols in and around the vicinity," he said.

He also said if residents decide to install a camera, which identifies a crime occurring on their property or the property of others, the police ask they share the information with them in an attempt to identify anyone responsible.

Normally, a person committing such acts could face criminal damage to property charges, as cited under Illinois law, Novak said.

"We would simply ask all residents and citizens to afford and respect everyone with their legal right of freedom of speech, even if their views and political affiliation is different from what yours are," he said.

About residents who have similar signs, Rinehard said even if they ruffle some feathers, "your signs bring a sense of hope to many others."

"Don't let the opposition threaten or terrorize you from exercising your rights. You have the same rights as an American just as they do, and as long as we are conducting ourselves in an agree-to- disagree manner, we cannot change the thinking and actions of others, but set an example for the generations to come," she said.

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