NEW ORLEANS — A vandal spray-painted graffiti with a mixture of pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel messages on the side of the Presbytère museum in New Orleans’ French Quarter early Friday morning.
The graffiti so incensed Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser that he said he is offering $5,000 out of his own pocket for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.
The graffiti included statements such as “Free Palestine” and some others that included vulgarity.
“We have worked hard over the last few years to restore the Presbytère,” said Nungesser. “It’s a shame that some coward felt the need to deface this historic building in the middle of the night."
The graffiti was removed Friday morning.
As lieutenant governor, Nungesser oversees the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, which includes state museums.
The Presbytère has a long history as it was designed in 1791 and completed in 1813.