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Statue based on iconic 'kissing sailor' photo in Florida spray-painted with '#MeToo'

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SARASOTA, Fla. — A statue in Florida based on an iconic photo of a sailor kissing a woman on V-J day was vandalized less than 24 hours after it was announced that the World War II veteran who was the subject of the photo had died.

The 26-foot tall statue named "Unconditional Surrender" is located on the Sarasota Bayfront near Marina Jack.

Sarasota Police Department said at approximately 12:53 a.m. on Tuesday, officers were dispatched for a report of an unknown person spray painting the statue.

When officers arrived on scene, they found "#MeToo" had been spray painted on woman's the left leg. Police couldn't find any spray paint bottles in the area and no other objects were found to be defaced or vandalized.

There are no available surveillance cameras in the area that could have captured the incident and no known witnesses, according to police.

The approximate damage is estimated to be more than $1,000. Police notified the City of Sarasota Public Works.

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