UPDATE: TACC Condemns Act of Vandalism Against US Flag; Manalapan PD to Hold Investigation

The Turkish-American Community Center released a statement Tuesday afternoon regarding the , where a damaged American flag was raised upside down in front of the center, located  at 229 Rt. 33 in Manalapan Township. 

"We the Turkish American Community Center condemn the act of vandalism  on our building and insulting our US flag by someone replacing our well maintained and displayed US flag with a tattered one in front of our community center," the press release stated. "Any act of vandalism is deplorable. But vandalism against a cultural center and places of learning, are particularly cowardly and hateful."

The press release went on to say that the center does not believe the crime was random, but isolated, and that the center is working with the local police to find the perpetrators of the crime.

"We have been in our community for over 25 year as an integral part of our community and we have never hung our American flag that was being flown upside down or tattered in front of our community center building. The Turkish American community is a minority among minorities, but with pride second to none in our deep love and loyalty to these great United States of America our new home." the press release said.

"Our beliefs in country, liberty, fairness, charity, democracy, are not merely words or passing thoughts," the release continued. "They are tangible rocks of granite, permanent and unshakeable, as clear to us as the ground we walk upon, serving ultimately to define us. We offer our labors in maintaining the fundamental principles of American and Turkish freedom and democracy which are firmly entrenched, and remain undiminished in our hearts."

If anyone has any information on the crime, the Turkish-American Community Center is asking its neighbors to please report it to the police. 

The Turkish-American Community Center board of directors concluded the press release saying that "all forms of racism, bigotry, and vandalism are unacceptable and completely contrary to our American fundamental values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law."

Manalapan Police Captain Christopher Marsala verified that the police were called to the Turkish American Community Center at 10:58 a.m. on Tuesday, May 10.  No police report was filed Tuesday morning.

"At that time, we were not made aware that the flag had been stolen and replaced with a tattered one," Capt. Marsala said. "I have since spoken with the TACC and confirmed that their US flag was stolen and we are now making this a theft investigation."

The Turkish American Community Center invites all to come out on Saturday, May 14 at 1 p.m. when the center will be holding a flag raising ceremony. The TACC wants to assure the community of their affinity with the American flag by raising a brand new flag and assuring that it is raised correctly.