Gang graffiti tagging in public spaces is problematic enough, but the spray painting of "ISIS" on a river back in Pueblo, Colorado powerfully shifts the conversation to a political one.  What is the message trying to be communicated by these taggers promoting a group that actively engages in beheading Americans, selling captured girls into slavery, and a wide variety of gruesome and barbaric acts?  If they were caught tagging in the areas controlled by ISIS, my guess is that their punishment would be both severe and barbaric.

Brooklyn, New York - As Jackie Robinson stood for freedom in the face of ugly racism, now his sculpture which celebrates his courage has also been subjected to similar ugly racist attack.

"There was the word "N".  And next to that there was a picture of a swastika and over that it said 'Heil,'" said Patrick, an area resident.

The inscription on the sculpture includes the following words "Robinson endured racist taunts, jeers, and death threats that would have broken the spirit of a lesser man.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer released a statement saying, "Almost every Saturday morning I stop by the statue on my bike, and am deeply moved each time. Defacing the Jackie Robinson statue is a dagger in the heart to everything America stands
for, and I hope those who are responsible are caught, punished, and taught why what they did is so disgusting and offensive."

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz said in a statement, "I am beyond disgusted by the defacing of this monument to tolerance and civil rights in America's Playground. This reprehensible behavior is a direct affront to the millions of Brooklynites that stand for diversity and respect. Whatever socially disconnected individual is responsible for this racist, anti-Semitic and frankly antisocial act is clearly consumed by self-hate. When apprehended by New York's Finest, I hope the punishment will serve as a strong deterrent to any punk thinking of copying these actions."

More at ABC 7 New York

Summary by Clean City Graffiti Watch

The hiker’s creed, “Take only pictures, leave nothing but footprints” has been turned upside down in recent months as a rash of graffiti vandalism has broken out in Joshua Tree National Park.   Millions of annual visitors have respected the natural beauty of the park.  The graffiti of the vandals has forced park rangers to close over 300 arces of the National Park including the highly popular, Rattlesnake Canyon, with its large granite outcroppings and natural spring pools.

"People are appalled and people are wondering how it could happen here, in a national park," said Pat Pilcher, a ranger at Joshua Tree.

According to park officials, defacing National Park property carries a maximum sentence of 6 months in prison and a $5,000
fine.

Park officials are assessing strategies to remove the graffiti without doing more harm.  Some of the graffiti may have damaged ancient Native American petroglyphs.

"People are protective of their parks," said, Jeffrey Olson, a spokesman for the National Park Service, "It makes it all the more shocking that somebody would defile our heritage."

More detail at LA Times.