Police Are Investigating Racist Anti-Immigrant Signs Invoking Donald Trump in Hampton, Iowa

Hampton police say they are investigating after racist signs were taped to multiple Hispanic-owned businesses in the north central Iowa town this week.

The paper printouts, which were first reported by the Hampton Chronicle, say, “Illegal immigrant hunting permit. No bag limit. Tagging not required. Trump 2024.”

“It was reported to the Hampton Police Department that in the early morning hours of Tuesday, August 13, 2024, multiple fliers were placed on the doors of several Hispanic businesses in Hampton,” Hampton Police Chief Mark Morrison said in a statement. {snip}

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Hampton, the Franklin County seat, is about 95 miles north of Des Moines and has a population of 4,300 residents.

Larry Sailer, chair of the Franklin County Republican Party, said he considers the act to be a hate crime. He said he condemns the sentiment on the posters and doesn’t believe they reflect the views of Republicans or Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

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He said he went to Mi Tierra, one of the affected businesses, for lunch Wednesday to show his support to the owners and was pleased to see a packed dining room.

“I do know the city police here are doing everything they can to find this person,” he said. “Hopefully they do bring them to justice. It’s just totally uncalled for. We don’t need division. We need to work together. And the people here that have businesses that are Mexican restaurants, are hardworking people. They’ve got their hearts in the right place. They’re family people. {snip}”

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