Vandal reprograms road construction sign with racial slur in Ypsilanti Township
Someone reprogrammed an electronic road construction sign in Ypsilanti Township today so that it displayed a racial slur, Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office spokesman Derrick Jackson said.
Someone called the sheriff's department to report the offensive message on the sign on Holmes Road near Ridge Road at 11:45 a.m., Jackson said, but by the time deputies arrived, the message had already been removed.
Jackson didn't know if personnel from the Washtenaw Road Commission, which is rebuilding a portion of Holmes Road in the area, had removed the message, but he said the road commission is aware of the incident.
Jackson said someone would have had to break into a locked box on the sign to reprogram it. He said the sheriff's department is investigating the incident.
Washtenaw County Road Commission personnel could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.
Editor's note: AnnArbor.com's policy is not to include racially offensive language in its reporting. WXYZ has posted a picture of the sign. It can be seen here but contains extremely offensive language.
Comments
Wolf's Bane
Sun, Apr 10, 2011 : 12:30 p.m.
Anyone remember this saying: "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me."? Granted, the message is uncalled for, but what do you expect with ever increasing unemployment, cuts in public education, and a continued degradation of the state? I'm just relieved nobody was hurt or lynched.
treetowncartel
Sun, Apr 10, 2011 : 4:54 a.m.
I thought Kwame buried this word a few years back?
A2James
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 10:44 p.m.
My perspective on this sad event can be found on <a href="http://www.jspenceronline.wordpress.com" rel='nofollow'>www.jspenceronline.wordpress.com</a>
David Paris
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 6:21 p.m.
Wow! Just WOW! I can't believe what gets censored on this web site... Wow! No Further Comment.
walker101
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 3:24 p.m.
I don't agree with sign or statement and I don't care if whoever decided to show his or her feelings, it's all about freedom of speech, they can say whatever they want, just like The Westboro Baptist Church. Take it with a grain of salt and consider the source.
Bill Wilson
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 5:26 p.m.
What Cash said x 2
Cash
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 4:50 p.m.
walker, The sign was altered....it had warned drivers that the road was closed. Removing that warning was dangerous to every driver. That is criminal.
EyeHeartA2
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 1:39 p.m.
From the video: "I didn't want other people to see it, that's why I turned around and took a picture." OK...um, sure. Luckily it only took them until a little after noon (a half day) to fix it.
Independent_Thinker
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 1:22 p.m.
It's sad that somebody did this. It's an ignorant and hurtful thing to do and there is no excuse for this sort of behavior. I hope they find and punish the perpetrator. It is also extremely weak that AA.com will not reveal what the sign said. What kind of reporting is this? Why report the story if you are not going to include all of the facts. The good, the bad, and the ugly are essential parts of all factual reading and all available information on any given story is imperative for readers to be fully informed. Don't worry, we'll still think that vandalism like this is deplorable if we know what it actually said and we won't think that you are endorsing it if you report all of the facts of any given story. We do not need you to interpret what is appropriate for us to see and not see. As time goes on, I doubt more and more the status of AA.com as any sort of real media outlet. This site is stifling in more ways than one. Not only do you choose to omit pertinent information from stories now, but your "moderation" of comments is nothing short of censorship of the people (not to mention the obvious political agenda behind the moderation).
glimmertwin
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 10:04 a.m.
The message is obviously wrong and inexcusable. But I have to respect whomever had the moxy to figure this out. Kind of a neat prank, actually. It could have been a funny story if it had been a comical message rather than a racial one.
eom
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 7:57 p.m.
Really? I don't respect any part of the person who did this. There's no "moxy" in altering signs on the roads to spout offensive racial slurs. Nope, no moxy at all.
SonnyDog09
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 12:17 p.m.
If the message had been comical, this story would not have appeared in ann arbor.com
Hillbillydeluxe
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 7:01 a.m.
Yes it's a horrible word. it only has power because we let it. Some let themselves be offended, because they are told they should be.
Cash
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 1:55 p.m.
Because I'm white, I am not qualified to address how the word impacts blacks. However, the real concern is: "Speech is the mirror of the soul; as a man speaks, so he is."
cinnabar7071
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 1:01 p.m.
Agreed Hillbilly, I've listened to rap since the late 70's and don't find the word offensive at all. I found the messege offensive but the word...... big deal.
Corby
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 3:54 a.m.
I see the sick, I don't see the humor. I acknowledge the huge presupposition in this statement, but I doubt God is even slightly amused.
RJA
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 3:22 a.m.
I just saw this on the news. Somebody has a sick sense of humor, glad to hear the investigation is on going.
Moscow On The Huron
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 1:43 a.m.
These pranks are all over the Internet -- "DANGER ZOMBIES AHEAD," "THANK YOU MARIO BUT OUR PRINCESS IS IN ANOTHER CASTLE," etc. Construction crews that haven't figured out by now that they need to change the default password (to something other than "1234" or "PASSWORD") and lock these things down are just enabling the troublemakers.
Rob
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 12:44 a.m.
These signs are so stupidly simple for anyone to change, it's been going on for years (though usually for humor, not hate), yet the various DOTs and manufacturers around the country can't be bothered to take some very simple steps to prevent it. All they have to do is change the passwords to something other than the factory default and have the manufacturers change the software so it's not so incredibly easy to reset the password if it has been changed.
Davidian
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 12:37 a.m.
I think the warning should be "18+ only," not "warning--you might die if you view this, it's so offensive" It's just a word, and the fact that people are so wigged out about it gives it the negative power that it has.
Cash
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 11:37 a.m.
In the editor's defense, the words you quote do not exist in this article. The quote is "extremely offensive language". "Speech is the mirror of the soul; as a man speaks, so he is." This of course, is why that the word has power.
Will
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 12:07 a.m.
Glad to know that the sheriff's department is investigating this crime.
Moscow On The Huron
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 11:03 p.m.
Anxious to see how the usual suspects will blame this on our governor.
PattyinYpsi
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 2:56 p.m.
This is the kind of brainless, us-versus-them comment that led someone to post that vicious sign. Try thinking before you post.
Moscow On The Huron
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 1:37 a.m.
Yet
Cash
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 11:44 p.m.
No one has mentioned him at all...except your post.
a2baggagehandler
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 11:01 p.m.
Oh, the humanity.
Roadman
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 10:45 p.m.
Simply no excuse for this type of behavior, no excuse at all.
Cash
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 10:28 p.m.
Never forget the history of Willow Run. Sadly, apparently the ignorant have not all moved away. <a href="https://www.lewiswaynegallery.com/news-photo-activist-principal-r-wiley-brownlee-tarred-p-11003.html" rel='nofollow'>https://www.lewiswaynegallery.com/news-photo-activist-principal-r-wiley-brownlee-tarred-p-11003.html</a>