The offensive graffiti reading "KKK Bitch" began appearing in mid-October in Kokomo, Indiana on cars, homes, and telephone poles. Many of the victims, including Peters, were African American, although some were not. Several homes with lawn signs supporting Democratic candidates in the upcoming presidential election had their signs vandalized with the Ku Klux Klan's initials. Peters believes that the increasingly hostile tone of the presidential campaign, particularly the nativist rhetoric of Republican candidate Donald Trump, has emboldened extremists. This behavior is concerning to Peters, as it may be influenced by the ignorant statements made by political candidates. Our country appears to be regressing, as police have no leads on the attacks. Democrats think the attacks were politically driven, while local Republicans doubt this claim and believe the perpetrators are simply troublemakers. The divisive political rhetoric is seeping into public conversations across the country, but it is difficult to measure its exact impact as there is no national data on politically motivated crimes or inflammatory language. However, the percentage of voters who believe it is acceptable to insult political opponents has increased throughout the campaign season, rising from 30 percent in March to 43 percent in October, according to surveys conducted by the non-partisan Pew Research Center. A majority of voters from both parties hold "very unfavorable" opinions of the opposing party, marking the first time this has happened since Pew began asking the question in 1992. Trust in government is also at near all-time lows. Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, believes these trends indicate inter-group tensions that can manifest in various ways, from harsh rhetoric to extremist actions. While much of the hostility has been directed towards immigrants, African Americans, and other groups associated with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Republicans have also experienced animosity. The focus of discussions on extremism has largely been on the Alt-Right, a loosely connected group of white nationalists, anti-Semites, and anti-immigration individuals who have come out of the shadows to support the Trump campaign. During a rally at the statehouse in Columbia, South Carolina on July 18, 2015, a Ku Klux Klan supporter with visible tattoos was captured by Reuters. Trump's promises to construct a border wall, remove illegal immigrants, and investigate Muslims for terrorism connections have sparked enthusiasm among the Alt-Right group. Michael Hill, a self-proclaimed white supremacist and leader of the League of the South, stated that the rhetoric used by the Alt-Right has helped to legitimize concerns about the erosion of the white, Christian majority in the country. He believes that the political climate surrounding certain campaigns has been beneficial for right-wing groups, not only in the United States but in other countries as well. Examples of similar nationalist sentiments causing violence and hostility have been seen in countries such as Britain, Russia, and Japan. Recent incidents in the United States, such as the burning of a black church in Mississippi and vandalism of political offices, have further highlighted the divisive and dangerous political climate. A man in Utah who had Trump yard signs on display discovered KKK graffiti on his car. At a college football game in Wisconsin, a fan wore a President Barack Obama mask with a noose around his neck. Both the Trump and Clinton campaigns did not respond to requests for comment. White nationalist Jared Taylor stated that Trump's positions align with the Alt-Right goal of "slowing the dispossession of whites," but he believes the media is exaggerating Trump's support within the Alt-Right to discredit him. Trump has received criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans for being slow to denounce the extreme elements of the political right. However, when a prominent KKK newspaper published a pro-Trump article on its front page recently, his campaign quickly released a statement rejecting the "repulsive" piece. Taylor, Hill, and other Alt-Right figures claim they do not support vandalism or violence and argue that their rhetoric is not hate speech, but rather that they are being unfairly vilified by the left. According to Heidi Beirich of the Southern Poverty Law Center, left-wing extremists have a history of aggressive confrontations with groups perceived as fascist or racist. She stated that anti-racists often exhibit more violence than racists. While the First Amendment of the US Constitution protects inflammatory speech, law enforcement agencies can investigate and prosecute hate crimes based on bias against race, ethnicity, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. Data from California State University researchers showed a 6 percent increase in hate crimes last year, with a significant 86 percent rise in crimes against Muslims. Some individuals involved in politics believe that there has been an overall decline in politeness that began prior to the current presidential campaign. Craig Dunn, the Republican party chairman for Howard County, Indiana, including Kokomo, mentions that a small number of extreme voices are being amplified through the Internet and social media, causing a general breakdown in manners. Local officials are concerned about the impact on their community. Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight, a Democrat, notes that the atmosphere has become more tense and volatile. He is particularly troubled by graffiti attacks, which he says are unprecedented in the area. One resident, Monica Fowler, 43, is struggling after having her Democratic yard signs defaced with "KKK." She states that it is acceptable to have differing opinions, but if your actions are going to intimidate or hurt someone else, it is not acceptable.