CARBONDALE, Ill. (WSIL) -- U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson promised to uphold law and order in southern Illinois after a federal building in Carbondale was defaced on Tuesday evening.
"There are bright lines separating where speech ends and criminal conduct begins. Those who committed this targeted vandalism to federal property will be pursued and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Weinhoeft said. "Our system protects good faith expressions of ideas and opinions, but it abhors lawlessness and violence. Any such criminality cannot, and will not, be tolerated."
Authorities said the incident occurred on June 10, when individuals gathered outside the entrance of the Senator Paul Simon Federal Building. During the gathering, some participants reportedly defaced the building's exterior, and officials are currently assessing the damage.
“The Senator Paul Simon Federal Building’s houses multiple United States federal entities and has been located in the community since 1978. These offices employ dozens of local residents, and the tenants of this building deserve to go to work without fear or intimidation. The FBI Springfield Field Office respects the rights of individuals to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights, but we will not tolerate individuals inciting violence or engaging in criminal activity and violating federal law. The individuals who defaced the building last night will be identified and charged, as well as those who aid and abet them,� said Christopher J.S. Johnson, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Springfield Field Office.
Authorities urge anyone with information about the incident to call 1-800-CALL-FBI and reference "Carbondale Illinois Federal Building."
