Peace and Tolerance: Protesters Overtook a Border Patrol Museum, Vandalized Photos of Dead Border Agents

Brittany M. Hughes | February 18, 2019
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Anti-border protestors reportedly stormed into a privately owned border patrol museum, vandalized the exhibits and defaced photos of border agents who’d died in the line of duty in a disturbing incident near El Paso, Texas over the weekend.

The Washington Examiner reports museum director David Hams said a group of about 50 protesters burst into his facility, vandalized the property, scared the wits out of his staff and then refused to leave the grounds, singing songs and shouting, "Say it loud, say it clear, Border Patrol kills!"

“Protesters plastered dozens of images on pictures, glass, painted walls, mannequins, and vehicles throughout the building. They also posted the pictures on the faces of Border Patrol agents who died in the line of duty,” the Examiner explains.

Jason Owens, a chief border patrol agent, posted photos of some of the vandalism as well as the mob on Twitter:
 


Security cameras set up outside the museum caught some of the protesters donning face masks before going inside the building at around 2:15 p.m. local time. Museum staff said the mob started shouting through a bullhorn and harassing other customers who were already in the building. Afraid for their safety, employees said they called 9-1-1 and pulled non-protesters into the gift shop so they could hide in safety until the police arrived.

Afterward, Ham told the Washington Examiner he's worried some of the vandalism may have done permanent damage to the museum's exhibits, saying, "It’s very hard to remove. They [staff] tried to remove some and they tear off. We’ve got antique cars, old Border Patrol vehicles, and an aircraft. We’re kind of worried it’s going to peel the paint off," said Ham. "I know it’s peeled the paint off some of our walls."

Despite wearing masks to hide their identity, the protesters, who call themselves “Tornillo: The Occupation,” didn’t have any qualms about live-streaming their assault on the facility with cell phones:

After arriving on the scene, police officers reportedly took protestors' IDs and information, and have told the museum owner they're investigating the incident. The owner says he plans to prosecute the protestors once insurance adjusters have assessed how much damage was done.

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