politics

Lawn signs for Harris, Warren and McGovern set on fire in Sterling

With just weeks to go before Election Day, political signs have become a point of contention in more than one Massachusetts town

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Someone set fire to political signs on a lawn in Sterling, Massachusetts, on Thursday.

Sterling police confirmed officers and firefighters were called out just after 10 p.m. to investigate the fire on Rocky Hill Road. There were no suspects in the area when officers arrived.

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Investigators said there were no other reports of vandalism in town.

A neighbor pulled up alongside the home and recorded cellphone video of the fire, dialing 911.

The signs are in support of three Democratic candidates: Vice President Kamala Harris, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Jim McGovern.

The homeowners say Democrats and Republicans get along well in the area, and they are angry someone would do this. They say they always display signs during election season and have never had a problem before.

"I'm sad for the psychology of the person that did this, cause what does it accomplish?" said homeowner Will Sherwood. "What did they expect us to do? Change our vote? Change our signs?"

"I think now's the time to call people up out," added homeowner Blaine Bershad. "If they're thinking that this is reasonable behavior, it's not."

With just weeks to go before Election Day, political signs have become a point of contention in more than one Massachusetts town. In Hanson, town officials are fining a resident who has been projecting a political sign onto the town's municipal water tower, despite orders to stop. And in Tyngsborough, the police chief issued a statement asking residents to "remain respectful" after an uptick in vandalism and theft of political signs.

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