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"None of us would like that, regardless of our political beliefs, regardless of what kind of statement we're making. "To them, I just wanted to express my condolences, that they had to experience such an incident," Allen said Wednesday.
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"On Tuesday, state Rep. Scott Allen made a surprise visit to our residence to say how horrible this act was," Thelen said.Īllen (R-Waukesha), who represents District 97, confirmed he expressed his regret that the family had to experience an element that he acknowledged has become all too common in a testy political landscape. And a Republican Party leader also voiced his sympathy for what the family went through. The Democratic Party of Waukesha County promised to deliver a new pride flag, along with a replacement political sign. Thelen said the sheriff's department delivered a new American flag the next day, courtesy of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
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If anything good came from the incident, it was how others responded. "I'm getting harassing messages from some Trump supporters saying that I'm making this all up just to make them look bad," Thelen said, adding that some comments tried to dismiss the vandals as nothing more than thoughtless "kids." "We felt targeted."įor him, the political element was accentuated by the pushback he got from people after he posted information about the incident on Facebook. "I think it was (a) hate crime 'cuz someone started the pride flag on fire," he said. She alerted the rest of the family, who doused the flames. Neuberger contacted the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department, which sent a deputy who agreed it was likely a case of arson.īut was it a hate crime? Authorities weren't sure. The car reportedly sped off after spotting her. When she ran outside and saw the burning sign and flags, she also noticed a car parked nearby with its lights off. "I thought I was just lonely and alone in this, but I've been getting good messages," Thelen said in a Facebook message Wednesday, three days after a Wisconsinites for Biden, an LGBTQ pride flag and an American flag were burned at their Genesee Road home near Green Country Road.Īccording to the family, Thelen's niece noticed something burning in the front yard at about 9:30 p.m. On the other hand, the supportive response from state and local officials, as well as neighbors, gave Robert Thelen, and his father Michael Neuberger, a reason to smile as well, even if the suspected underlying motive continues to bother them. WAUKESHA - For a local family, a sign-and-flag-burning incident at their village home certainly provided reason enough for angst, drawn out by their feeling the vandalism was generated by hate and politics.