This is a public statement by government officials excusing criminal acts. They acknowledge that the vandals with the paint violated Atta’s rights, but then say that Atta should have expected this violation. They reframe and minimize his property being attacked as him “not being welcomed with open arms.” This is how government officials build a permission structure for hate crimes, which then occurred with the more brazen attack that very night. 

The RNC clearly cannot be trusted. Once again we see Mayor Johnson either being grossly ignorant of reality, or outright lying to enrich business elites.