Anti-immigrant graffiti spray-painted onto Irish bar in US

The incident saw the words "Immigrants not welcome" spray-painted across the pub's front.

Police in the US are investigating an incident in which an Irish bar and restaurant was vandalised with graffiti in Kansas City, Missouri. The owners of Browne's Irish Market, an establishment which claims to be "North America's oldest Irish business", discovered the attack, which saw the words "Immigrants not welcome" written in black spray paint, on Monday. https://twitter.com/ShannonOBTV/status/1006278568282816512 The well-known pub was founded back in 1901 by Kerry couple Ed and Mary Flavin. Originally set up as a trading space in which locals would swap pennies for cured hams and embroidered pieces of lace, Flavin's Market grew and grew to accommodate the business' growing needs. Their daughter Margaret and her husband James R. (Jim) Browne, also from County Kerry, continued the family business after their marriage in 1915. The pub and restaurant is currently run by the fourth generation of the family.

Owner Kerry Browne spoke to the Irish Times who blamed the attack on the increased malevolence and anti-immigrant rhetoric that has bombarded American politics since the beginning of Donald Trump's presidency.

“Certainly the political environment has changed,” she said.

“Sadly, people are looking at things differently now. It is a pity the hate that is out there, that level of hate. Whoever did it is surely an immigrant too.”

Kansas City spreads over two states, Kansas and Missouri, both of which voted hugely in favour of Donald Trump almost two years ago. The state of Missouri has typically been a red state, noting a staunch republican-leaning, when it comes to American politics. In the 2016 presidential election, the state of Missouri voted 56.772% for the Trump administration. Kansas, another red state, has voted hugely in favour of the republican party leader running for President since Nixon in 1972.