Woman arrested after World War II memorial on National Mall vandalized
A Washington D.C. woman was taken into custody and charged with two federal felonies after graffiti and soap bubbles were found at the World War II Memorial.
A woman identified as Melissa L. Farris was arrested on Friday and charged in federal court with Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials, offenses that carry up to ten years in prison. The charges stem from graffiti reading “Clean hands dirty $” and the release of soap bubbles in the memorial’s fountain on the National Mall.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the arrest on X, posting images of the suspect and a spray-paint can at the scene. The U.S. Park Police had been investigating the incident, and the Interior Department said the agency will locate the responsible party.
The non-profit Friends of the National World War II Memorial issued a statement that the site should not be used for political expression, emphasizing that “there are many places in our country for expression, debate and disagreement.” The Veterans of Foreign Wars described the act as “an act of profound disrespect.”
Visitors to the memorial reported that the bubbles appeared “juvenile and funny,” but described the graffiti as disrespectful. One visitor said the vandalism was “in complete distaste” given the memorial’s purpose.
The incident follows other recent vandalism incidents on the National Mall, including graffiti on the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool and a numeric inscription on the National Memorial lawn earlier in June.