Repeated Vandalism at ACDP HQ Demands Response

By Tonya Winbush, JaCory Cleveland, Salley Palmer Ouellette, Mary Geren/

Anderson County Democratic Party Executive Committee

The Anderson County Democratic Party (ACDP) is saddened to announce that their office was recently vandalized. A police report was filed. 

This is the third incident in 2021 in which the ACDP headquarters has been targeted. Back in the spring, extremist flyers and violent, threatening messages were taped on the front window, and in September, a handwritten note, which also included hate speech, was delivered to the office. 

The current national political climate is filled with vitriol and polarizing rhetoric. However, Anderson is better than this. Members of the ACDP include parents, grandparents, sons, daughters, teachers, nurses, lawyers, doctors, veterans, ministers, and other hard-working Andersonians who have served their city, county, state, and nation for decades.

They have never condoned the use of violence, property destruction, or inflammatory rhetoric toward their GOP counterparts and never will. The January 6 insurrection serves as a painful reminder of the type of domestic terrorism that can occur when good citizens from both parties ignore or condone the actions of radical extremists. 

In an attempt to demonstrate unity and a good example for the Anderson community, members of the ACDP Executive Committee reached out to several local GOP representatives as well as their state party chairman, Drew McKissick. They requested the Republican Party also issue a statement condemning the use of violence, property damage, vandalism, and incendiary language. 

Unfortunately, after being given nearly two weeks to respond, no state level or local Anderson GOP member has issued a formal statement regarding this matter, and the ACDP can no longer wait for the GOP to do the right thing. However, the Anderson County Democratic Party still calls on their Republican counterparts to condemn this behavior. 

While they are dismayed and disappointed by these acts of hate, the ACDP will not stop doing what they have always done, which is working to improve the lives of all Andersonians regardless of their class, race, gender, identity, religion, and yes, political affiliation. The ACDP believes everyone deserves an equitable opportunity to achieve the American Dream and will continue to strive toward that goal. 

If you would like to learn more about the Anderson County Democratic Party, please visit their website at www.andersoncountyscdemocrats.org and follow their Facebook page. 

Tonya Winbush is Chairwoman of the Anderson County Democratic Party; JaCory Cleveland is 1st Vice Chair; 

Salley Palmer Ouellette, 2nd Vice Chair; and Mary Geren, Executive Director