Officials Investigate ‘86 47’ Markings Etched Into National Mall

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The numbers “86 47,” used by some to protest President Donald Trump, appeared etched into the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, prompting an investigation by the U.S. Park Police, though the cause of the marks is not yet known.

Markings appearing to read “86 47” were etched into the National Mall on Thursday. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Images captured of the National Mall on Thursday show a clearly defined “eight” and other fainter numbers etched into the grass that appear to make up the phrase “86 47.”

The “86 47” phrase has been used by some as a protest slogan against Trump, while Trump has previously called the phrase a call for “assassination,” as “86” is a common slang term to mean “throw out” or “get rid of,” according to Merriam-Webster, and Trump is the 47th President of the United States.

The U.S. Park Police told Forbes in a statement it responded to a report of vandalism on the west lawn of the Washington Monument around 11:30 a.m. EST, noting the numbers “86 47” were marked into the grass.

The cause of the discoloration of the grass is not yet known, U.S. Park Police said, adding grass samples have been taken for testing and an investigation is ongoing.

A Department of the Interior spokesperson condemned the “deranged vandalism” of the National Mall in a statement to Forbes, adding, “Any threat against the President is taken very seriously by the Department, and our U.S. Park Police will investigate this incident and hold those responsible accountable.”

what does “86 47” mean?

The phrase “86 47” is sometimes used as a protest phrase against Trump, including by the liberal group Accountability Now USA, which has flown an “86 47” flag during a months-long protest of Trump near the National Mall. A federal judge sided with the advocacy group earlier this month after the Justice Department claimed the phrase is a call for violence, saying in a ruling the phrase appears to call for the “President’s impeachment and removal from office — that is, ‘to throw [him] out.’” The Trump administration, though, has interpreted the phrase as a threat against Trump’s life. The phrase garnered national attention when former FBI Director James Comey made a post on Instagram last year depicting seashells forming the “86 47” numbers. Comey, in a follow-up post, clarified he thought the seashells depicted a “political message” but he “didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence.” Trump said in an interview last year he felt Comey knew “exactly what that meant,” claiming Comey was “calling for the assassination of the president.” After Comey made the post while vacationing in North Carolina, the Secret Service reportedly tracked his location as he returned home to Virginia, after which federal agents interviewed him. Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury in April on one count of knowingly making a ”threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States,” and one count of making a social media post containing a “threat to kill the President.” Comey, in an interview with ABC News, said his lawyers plan to argue the Justice Department is selectively targeting him, noting this is his second indictment and that he has been a regular target of Trump’s ire since he investigated the 2016 Trump campaign’s alleged Russia ties.

tangent

The National Mall is set to be the site of some events held to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, including a parade and fireworks display on July 4.

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