The colorful cutout letters spelling the city’s name were spray painted and torched Monday night.
Graffiti protesting Mexico’s restrictive abortion laws was found on the Mérida sign, a popular spot for tourist selfies. The flagpole and numerous planters were also painted with slogans.
Police reportedly are using photographs to track down the vandals, most of whom appeared to be masked. An estimated 200-300 women marched from the Remate, where an anti-monument was erected, to the Plaza Grande via Calle 60.
The monument to motherhood, which marchers passed by, was boarded up to protect it from repeat incidents of vandalism.
Sept. 28 was International Safe Abortion Day and parallel protests were held in several countries. Mérida, however, is still cleaning up after International Women’s Day in March. Monuments and private property were spraypainted throughout the Centro denouncing violence against women.