BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Vandals defaced the front of Bellingham City Hall Sunday following an organized march prompted by the police killing of George Floyd.

Mayor Seth Fleetwood’s office says most of the demonstrators had left when a small group spray painted slogans and obscenities on the building and took down flags and burned them on the front steps.

A city Public Works crew quickly cleaned the building and replaced the flags Sunday evening.

Fleetwood says in a statement that while his office supports peaceful protest, “The hard work of translating protest to meaningful action is done with respectful collaboration – not property destruction.”

His office estimates damage at $3000.

Police are investigating.

Mayor Seth Fleetwood’s full statement: “We support the efforts of peaceful marchers who are standing up for vital social change. It is disappointing that a few people would take advantage of Sunday’s march and behave this way. The hard work of translating protest to meaningful action is done with respectful collaboration not property destruction.”

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Abrasions can currently be seen outside of the Bellingham City Hall building where the spray paint had been scraped off.