The marriage amendment is one of the more controversial issues that voters will have to weigh, but some people aren't content with simply voicing their opinion at the ballot box.
Vandals first targeted a Brooklyn Park neighborhood along Mississippi Lane two weeks ago by destroying five campaign signs urging people to "vote no" on the marriage amendment.
After the neighbors replaced those signs, thieves came by Wednesday night and stole them all.
The targeted homeowners call the acts "an assault against their civil liberties and their political process."
"This is actually a criminal act, and we hope that people will just cease and desist and just let us get together and have a civil conversation about the issues," said Curt Oliver, one of the homeowners who had his signs vandalized and stolen.
"I'm outraged. We will not tolerate prejudice and bigotry in our community," said Brooklyn Park City Council Member Elizabeth Knight, who also had her signs vandalized and stolen. "This is the second most diverse city in the state and this is not welcome. This is a violation of our free speech by putting signs in our yard and someone continuously coming and taking them out."
Neighbors say this is the first time they've ever seen this sort of backlash directed toward campaign signs.
Meantime, this is costing the homeowners money as well. Each of those "vote no" signs costs $10 and homeowners replaced them every time something has happened.
Delane Cleveland
dcleveland@twelve.tv
Oct. 5, 2012