Campaign Led By Democrats Raised $13,000 To Rebuild Firebombed Republican Headquarters In North Carolina

A GoFundMe campaign started by David Weinberger, a research fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School, has raised over $13,000 to reopen the a GOP office in North Carolina after it was reportedly firebombed over the weekend. "As Democrats, we are starting this campaign to enable the Orange County, North Carolina Republican office to re-open as soon as possible," Weingberger wrote in the GoFundMe campaign's description.

The New York Times reports via the North Carolina GOP and police officials that a Republican Party office in Orange County, North Carolina was firebombed on Saturday night. The party shared pictures of the burned out office on Twitter, along with an image of graffiti written on the side of the building that read, "Nazi Republicans leave town or else.”

Police officials in Hillsborough, North Carolina said that the damage was caused by a firebomb thrown through the window of the office. The Hillsborough Police Department is investigating the fire in conjunction with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

"This highly disturbing act goes far beyond vandalizing property; it willfully threatens our community’s safety via fire, and its hateful message undermines decency, respect and integrity in civic participation,” Hillsborough Mayor Tom Stevens said in a statement on Sunday. “I believe I speak for the overwhelming majority of people who make Hillsborough their home: Acts like this have no place in our community. Our law enforcement officials are responding quickly and thoroughly to investigate this reprehensible act and prosecute the perpetrators.”

On Twitter, Donald Trump claimed that the bombing was carried out by "Animals representing Hillary Clinton and Dems in North Carolina." Hillary Clinton condemned the attack on social media, writing, "The attack on the Orange County HQ @NCGOP office is horrific and unacceptable. Very grateful that everyone is safe."

Many online reacted to the GoFundMe campaign that began circulating on Sunday. Some pointed out that the owner of the building would likely have an insurance claim, while others suggested donating to charity rather than the GOP.