A splatter of green paint was discovered by a patrol officer at the base of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. in the early morning hours of Friday.

According to Park Police, no words were written on the statue. They hope to learn more soon as to why someone would deface the monument.

The act has set off several comments on opinion boards overnight. Like"johnlockesghost" on CBS News website:

Defacing out national monuments is a sacrilege. I don't know what the penalty may be, but I hope they get the maximum possible."

Authorities have not divulged whether surveillance cameras captured anything that would be helpful.

The Lincoln Memorial will reopen once National Park Service crews finish cleaning the statue Friday morning.

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