
On September 20, 2022, the Washington Monument was vandalized with red paint. A man was arrested for spilling paint on a large portion of the monument and using it to write a vulgar message. Photos and videos circulating on Twitter revealed the message to be: Have you been fucked by this ... Gov says tough shit. The National Parks Service sent a team of stone and marble preservation professionals to begin the removal process early the next morning.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of vandalism | September 20, 2022 |
| Type of vandalism | Red paint and graffiti |
| Message painted | "Have you been fucked by this ... Gov says tough shit." |
| Arrests made | Yes, Shaun Ray Deaton, 44, of Bloomington, Indiana |
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What You'll Learn
- The Washington Monument was vandalised with red paint in September 2022
- The vandal, Shaun Ray Deaton, was arrested and charged with trespassing, tampering and vandalism
- The message contained profanity, with some letters standing at 5.125 inches tall
- Photos and videos of the vandalism circulated on Twitter
- The monument has been closed several times, including due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lightning strikes

The Washington Monument was vandalised with red paint in September 2022
On September 20, 2022, the Washington Monument, a 555-foot-tall obelisk in Washington, D.C., was vandalised with red paint. The monument, built to commemorate George Washington, the first president of the United States, was defaced with a vulgar message written in red paint.
According to the U.S. Park Police, a man was taken into custody and charged with trespassing, tampering, and vandalism. The man, identified as 44-year-old Shaun Ray Deaton of Bloomington, Indiana, allegedly spilled a large portion of red paint in one area and used it to write a message. This act of vandalism temporarily closed the monument for one evening, but it has since been reopened to visitors.
Videos and photos circulating on Twitter revealed the message painted on the Washington Monument: "Have you been fucked by this ... Gov says tough shit." The message sparked outrage and concern among the public, with many taking to social media to express their disappointment and call for stronger security measures at the monument.
The National Parks Service responded swiftly to the incident, deploying a team of stone and marble preservation professionals early the next morning to begin the removal process. This was not the first time the team had dealt with paint vandalism, as they employed similar strategies when the Lincoln Monument was vandalised with light green paint in 2013.
The Washington Monument has faced several closures over the years due to various reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic, lightning strikes, and credible threats to visitors and resources during times of political unrest. The monument is a significant landmark in Washington, D.C., standing as the world's tallest predominantly stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk.
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The vandal, Shaun Ray Deaton, was arrested and charged with trespassing, tampering and vandalism
On September 20, 2022, the Washington Monument was vandalized with red paint. The vandal, Shaun Ray Deaton, was arrested and charged with trespassing, tampering, and vandalism. Deaton, a 44-year-old man from Bloomington, Indiana, allegedly defaced the outside base of the monument with a vulgar message. The message, which was shared on Twitter, read, "Have you been fucked by this ... Gov says tough shit."
This act of vandalism is not the first of its kind. The Washington Monument, a 555-foot-tall attraction, has faced multiple closures over the years due to various reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic, lightning strikes, and threats of violence. The monument was also previously vandalized with light green paint in 2013.
The US Park Police took Deaton into custody and announced that the initial charges were trespassing, tampering, and vandalism. They also stated that there may be additional charges as the investigation continues. The National Parks Service acted swiftly to address the vandalism, with a team of NPS conservators arriving early the next morning to begin the removal process.
The Washington Monument, an obelisk located in Washington, D.C., is a significant landmark in the United States. It was built to commemorate George Washington, the first president of the United States, and serves as a memorial to his legacy. The monument is made of granite and marble and offers panoramic views of the city.
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The message contained profanity, with some letters standing at 5.125 inches tall
On September 20, 2022, the Washington Monument was vandalised with red paint by a man. The US Park Police arrested Shaun Ray Deaton, a 44-year-old man from Bloomington, Indiana, for allegedly defacing the monument. Deaton was charged with trespassing, tampering, and vandalism. The monument was vandalised with the profane message, "Have you been fucked by this ... Gov says tough shit." Some letters in the message stood at 5.125 inches tall.
The Washington Monument is an obelisk on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It is the world's tallest predominantly stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk, standing at 554 feet 7+11⁄32 inches (169.046 m) tall. The structure was built to commemorate George Washington, a Founding Father of the United States, victorious commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797.
The act of vandalism caused a temporary closure of the monument. This was not the first time the monument had been closed; it was previously closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, threats to visitors and park resources, lightning strikes, and earthquake damage.
The Washington Monument has suffered several closures and incidents of damage over the years, including the 2011 Virginia earthquake, which caused over 150 cracks in the structure. The monument was also closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and again in 2021 due to safety concerns following the United States Capitol attack.
The recent act of vandalism has likely sparked outrage and concern among the public and officials. The National Parks Service acted swiftly to remove the paint, employing a team of stone and marble preservation professionals to restore the monument to its original state.
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Photos and videos of the vandalism circulated on Twitter
On September 20, 2022, photos and videos circulated on Twitter showing that the Washington Monument had been vandalized with red paint. The obelisk, which is the world's tallest predominantly stone structure, was defaced with the message: "Have you been fucked by this ... Gov says tough shit." The vulgar message was painted in large red letters at the base of the monument.
The Washington Monument, located in Washington, D.C., was built to commemorate George Washington, the first president of the United States and the victorious commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Standing at 555 feet tall, it is a prominent landmark in the nation's capital.
The vandalism sparked a swift response from the authorities. The U.S. Park Police arrested Shaun Ray Deaton, a 44-year-old man from Bloomington, Indiana, at the scene. Deaton was charged with trespassing, tampering, and vandalism. In a statement, the Park Police noted that the investigation was ongoing and additional charges could be brought forward.
The incident attracted widespread attention on social media, with many people sharing photos and videos of the defaced monument. Some Twitter users expressed outrage at the vandalism, while others shared concerns about the potential damage to the historic structure.
A preservation team from the National Park Service was promptly deployed to remove the paint. They utilized specialized techniques to address the paint spill and the message, ensuring the careful cleaning of the stone surface. The team had previously faced a similar challenge when the Lincoln Monument was vandalized with light green paint in 2013.
The swift response from law enforcement and preservation experts reflected the significance of the Washington Monument as a cherished symbol of the nation's history and a popular tourist attraction. The incident also highlighted the ongoing challenges of protecting public monuments and ensuring their preservation for future generations.
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The monument has been closed several times, including due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lightning strikes
The Washington Monument has indeed been closed several times, including due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lightning strikes. The Monument was closed on March 14, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and reopened on October 1, 2020, with safety measures in place, such as mandatory face coverings, social distancing, and online ticketing. However, it closed again briefly due to security concerns following the United States Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, and due to a revival of COVID-19 fears.
On August 16, 2021, the Monument was once again closed due to lightning strikes, which is a relatively common occurrence, with meteorologist Chris Vagasky stating that the Monument is struck by lightning "twice per year on the high end and once every five years on the low end." This particular strike in 2021 damaged the electronic access system used to operate the doors and elevators, requiring repairs and leading to a temporary closure.
The Washington Monument has also been closed for other reasons, including due to the 2011 Virginia earthquake, which caused over 150 cracks in the structure and resulted in an indefinite closure until 2014. There have also been closures for elevator repairs, security upgrades, and soil contamination issues. In 2017, the Monument's lighting system malfunctioned, leading to another closure.
These closures aim to ensure the safety of visitors and staff, address any damage or technical issues, and maintain the proper functioning of this important landmark.
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Frequently asked questions
The Washington Monument was vandalised with the message: "Have you been fucked by this ... Gov says tough shit."
Shaun Ray Deaton, a 44-year-old man from Bloomington, Indiana, was arrested for the act of vandalism.
The area was closed off, and a team of NPS in-house conservators began the removal process at 5 AM the following morning.








































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