“This hateful stunt was meant to silence us,” Allison said in a news release. “We live in a difficult time in America,” Statesville Branch NAACP President Todd Scott said in a statement. “This disturbing incident reflects the broader rise in hate-fueled political rhetoric and acts of racial intimidation targeting marginalized communities nationwide. “We welcome the FBI’s investigation and urge a thorough probe to identify and hold accountable those responsible,” Reider added. “There must be zero tolerance for racist intimidation in our democratic process.”Related♦ SPD, FBI investigating after Statesville resident finds doll hanging near city councilwoman’s campaign sign