Two women who were originally being charged with arson and a hate crime for allegedly burning a “Make America Great Again” sign had their hate crime and felony charges dropped Thursday.
The two 19-year-old Maryland women, D’Asia R. Perry and Joy M. Shuford, were arrested and charged days ago with second degree arson and hate crime charges after allegedly burning a pro-Donald Trump sign.
These charges have now been dropped, and the two women now face the less severe charges of “malicious burning, trespassing and malicious destruction of property,” the Baltimore-Sun reports.
The original hate crime charges were due to the implication that the burning was done due to the victim’s political beliefs.
In charging the two women, one police officer noted, “The intentional burning of these political signs, along with the beliefs, religious views and race of this political affiliation, directly coincides with the victim.”
Nonetheless, those charges were dropped, due to a decision made by both the Princess Anne Police Department and the Somerset County State’s Attorney’s Office.