‘White power’ graffiti found after fire destroys historic Tennessee social justice center

Graffiti allegedly linked to the white power movement was found at the scene of a fire that destroyed part of the Highlander Education and Research Center in New Market, Tenn., the nonprofit said Tuesday.

The main offices of the social justice nonprofit, which has hosted civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks, were burned down in a “devastating fire” on Friday. No one was injured, but much of the center’s archives were destroyed.

In a release posted to Facebook on Tuesday, the Center said that it also “found a symbol connected to the white power movement spray-painted on the parking lot connected to the main office.” 

{mosads}“While we do not know the names of the culprits, we know that the white power movement has been increasing and consolidating power across the South, across this nation, and globally,” the group said.

Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Coffey confirmed to the Knoxville News Sentinel that graffiti was found at the scene, describing it as the “hashtag symbol.”

“It’s not a traditional, throw-it-in-your-face symbol that you would immediately recognize,” Coffey said. “But it has been used by individuals in the past. … We have seen this symbol associated with different groups.”

Coffey also told the paper that his office is seeking help from another, unspecified law enforcement agency to determine the symbol’s meaning.

The Highlander Center noted in its release that the fire is under investigation, and called on supporters to “love each other and support each other and to keep each other safe in turbulent times.”

The Knoxville News Sentinel noted that authorities had previously not mentioned the graffiti publicly or indicated whether the fire seemed suspicious prior to the Highlander Center’s release.