NYPD Investigating Vandalism Of Megan Rapinoe Posters As Possible Hate Crime

NEW YORK, July 11, 2019 -- U.S. women's soccer team member Megan Rapinoe celebrates the ticker-tape parade for World Cup-winning United States women's soccer team in New York, the United States, July 10, 2019. (Photo by Wang Ying/Xinhua via Getty)
NEW YORK, July 11, 2019 -- U.S. women's soccer team member Megan Rapinoe celebrates the ticker-tape parade for World Cup-winning United States women's soccer team in New York, the United States, July 10, 2019. (Photo... NEW YORK, July 11, 2019 -- U.S. women's soccer team member Megan Rapinoe celebrates the ticker-tape parade for World Cup-winning United States women's soccer team in New York, the United States, July 10, 2019. (Photo by Wang Ying/Xinhua via Getty) (Xinhua/Wang Ying via Getty Images) MORE LESS
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The New York Police Department is investigating whether vandalized posters of openly gay soccer star Megan Rapinoe found in New York City were hate crimes.

NYPD detective Sophia Mason told TPM that eight posters of Rapinoe in a 42nd Street subway station were defaced with “various derogatory anti-sexual orientation comments.”

The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force launched an investigation into the vandalism after officers discovered the posters on Monday night, according to Mason.

Rapinoe and the rest of the U.S. women’s national soccer team led a celebratory parade in New York on Wednesday after they won the Women’s World Cup over the weekend. Rapinoe scored one of the goals that led to the victory over the Netherlands.

The celebrity athlete drew national attention several weeks ago when she said she’s “not going to the fucking White House,” which prompted President Donald Trump to throw a fit on Twitter and accuse her of disrespecting “our Country, the White House” and “our Flag.”

On Wednesday, Rapinoe told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that she not only stands by her comment, but also several of her teammates have also agreed not to go if Trump ends up inviting the team to the White House (despite declaring he’d invite the team “win or lose” during his tirade against Rapinoe, Trump now says he hasn’t thought about inviting them yet).

Notable Replies

  1. Hate is the core value of conservatism.

  2. Not sure vandalizing posters, especially in the New York subway, rises to the level of a hate crime (it’s a misdemeanor, right?), but whatever.

    Trump will never invite the women to the White House, because he knows that none of them would show up.

  3. Actually, no. Not historically. True conservatives are not racist–at least it’s not part of the ideology; indeed, it is contrary to the ideology.

    There are very, very few true conservatives any more. There are many, many reactionaries, racists, neo-Nazis and fascists who call themselves conservative. And the media lets them do it.

  4. Trump vs USWNT is making the Thai women’s team feel good about themselves by comparison.

  5. if Trump ends up inviting the team to the White House (despite declaring he’d invite the team “win or lose” during his tirade against Rapinoe

    It’s drives me crazy that this keeps being repeated. During one of his “White House helicopter chats” he said he would invite them. Then a few days later, during another “helicopter chat” he backtracked.

    One thing is sure, regardless: They aren’t going to the fucking White(s Only) House.

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