{"id":2361647,"date":"2024-10-30T13:50:01","date_gmt":"2024-10-30T17:50:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ballot-boxes-set-on-fire-in-washington-oregon-marked-with-free-gaza-message\/"},"modified":"2024-10-30T13:53:14","modified_gmt":"2024-10-30T17:53:14","slug":"ballot-boxes-set-on-fire-in-washington-oregon-marked-with-free-gaza-message","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ballot-boxes-set-on-fire-in-washington-oregon-marked-with-free-gaza-message\/","title":{"rendered":"Ballot boxes set on fire in Washington, Oregon marked with &#8216;Free Gaza&#8217; message"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fballot-boxes-set-on-fire-in-washington-oregon-marked-with-free-gaza-message%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2361647&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In a series of alarming\u2062 incidents, three ballot \u200cboxes in the Pacific Northwest were set ablaze using <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">incendiary\u2064 devices labeled<\/a> with\u2064 the \u2064phrase \u201cFree Gaza.\u201d The most recent fire \u200doccurred on October 28\u2062 in Vancouver, \u2062Washington, where nearly 500 ballots were damaged but \u200drecoverable, while an\u200c unknown number were completely \u200bdestroyed. Investigations suggest that the suspect\u2064 or suspects linked \u2062to \u2062this arson\u200b are \u200dresponsible for two additional\u200d fires: one at a ballot\u2062 box in Portland,\u200c Oregon, \u200dand another in Vancouver on October\u200c 8. Authorities have collected enough \u200bevidence to connect \u200call three \u2063incidents, indicating \u2062a potential pro-Palestinian motive behind\u200b the attacks. A note\u2062 stating, \u200b\u201cALL\u2063 DROP BOXES WILL\u2062 BURN. FREE GAZA,\u201d was found at the site of the latest fire.\u200b This violence comes amidst heightened unrest in the region in response \u200dto the ongoing \u200dconflict in Gaza, \u200bnotably following the \u2062Hamas-led attack\u2064 on Israel,\u200b which\u2064 has \u2062intensified \u2064protests and civil disturbances in \u2062both Washington and Oregon.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Ballot boxes set on fire by incendiary devices marked with &lsquo;Free Gaza&rsquo; message<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1848081\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Three ballot boxes set on fire by an unknown arsonist in the Pacific Northwest had incendiary devices marked with the phrase &ldquo;Free <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Gaza\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Gaza<\/a>&rdquo; inside.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Nearly 500<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ballots\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> ballots<\/a> were damaged but recoverable, and an unknown number were completely destroyed in an arson fire set to a Vancouver, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Washington<\/a>, ballot box by an unknown person on Oct. 28.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The suspect or suspects who set the Vancouver ballot box on fire with incendiary devices has been linked to two additional fires that damaged a ballot box in Portland, Oregon, on Monday, as well as an Oct. 8 fire at a different <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-zuckerberg-bans-president-trump-from-using-facebook-indefinitely\/\" title=\"BREAKING: Zuckerberg Bans President Trump from Using Facebook \u201cIndefinitely\u201d\">ballot drop box<\/a> in Vancouver.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3196929\/turnout-tracker-where-ballots-cast-early-2024-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>TURNOUT TRACKER: WHERE BALLOTS HAVE BEEN CAST EARLY IN THE 2024 ELECTIONS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There was enough evidence collected at all three scenes that lead us to believe that all three incidents are connected, and we cannot get into more detail,&rdquo; Mike Benner, a spokesman for the Portland Police Bureau, said following the two latest arson attacks on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>The <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/10\/29\/us\/ballot-box-fires-oregon-washington-gaza.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">New York Times<\/a><\/em>  reported that all three incendiary devices had the pro-Gaza message written on them. The <em><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/10\/29\/us-news\/free-gaza-message-linked-to-ballot-box-attacks-in-washington-and-oregon-source\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">New York Post<\/a><\/em>  also reported that a note saying &ldquo;ALL DROP BOXES WILL BURN. FREE GAZA&rdquo; was found at the site of the Vancouver ballot box fire on Monday. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Authorities investigate the scene as smoke pours out of a ballot box on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Vancouver, Washington. (KGW8 via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>  The attack on election security in Portland and Washington by a suspect whom evidence suggests could be a pro-Palestinian activist comes after both areas have been rocked by leftist agitators for years. During the Black Lives Matter protests, progressives in Portland broke into riots for a &ldquo;summer of rage&rdquo; that revolved around looting and vandalism. Washington saw similar riots, with BLM activists taking over several blocks of Seattle and claiming it as the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, or &ldquo;Chaz.&rdquo; The riots led to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-american-counterpunch-governor-greg-abbott-touts-his-state-as-the-land-of-freedom-and-opportunity\/\" title=\"Exclusive -- American Counterpunch: Governor Greg Abbott Touts His State as the Land of Freedom and Opportunity\">multiple deaths<\/a> across Washington and Portland.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The region has once again seen a rise in unrest following the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that murdered 1,200 civilians. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators staged encampments at multiple universities denouncing Israel&rsquo;s war in Gaza, with tense protests at institutions such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FrontlinesTPUSA\/status\/1788010181177340137\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">University of Washington<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=niTEiV5ileU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Portland State University<\/a> turning into violent altercations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"niTEiV5ileU\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Cops Charge Into Portland State University To Arrest Pro-Palestinian Protesters | US News | N18G\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/niTEiV5ileU?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>As authorities have yet to apprehend the person who vandalized the ballot boxes in Vancouver and Portland, It remains unclear whether they were an anti-Israel agitator.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Officials are investigating the incident, to determine whether the unknown arsonist could have scrawled &ldquo;Free Gaza&rdquo; on the incendiary devices merely to sow discord before they confirm the perpetrator was a pro-Palestinian activist, per comments to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/10\/29\/us\/ballot-box-fires-oregon-washington-gaza.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><em>New York Times<\/em><\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Portland\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Portland<\/a> Police Bureau&nbsp;Assistant Chief Amanda McMillan noted during a news conference Monday that the fires are &ldquo;targeted&rdquo; and expressed concern that they are &ldquo;trying to impact the election process.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The FBI&rsquo;s Seattle office is conducting an investigation into the arson attacks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1848081\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1848081\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ballot boxes in the Pacific Northwest were set ablaze with incendiary devices labeled &#8220;Free Gaza,&#8221; damaging nearly 500 ballots<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2361648,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Vancouver.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[44028,6642,4086],"class_list":["post-2361647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-ballot-boxes","tag-oregon","tag-washington"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Vancouver.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2361647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2361647"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2361647\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2361648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2361647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2361647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2361647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}