Someone has vandalized Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Monument.City police were called at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday to the intersection of Eutaw Place and West Lanvale Street on a report of vandalism on the Francis Scott Key Monument.Police said someone or a group of people threw paint on the 106-year-old statue and sprayed graffiti that read "racist anthem" and "slave owner." On the ground, the third verse of the national anthem, which highlights slavery, was written out."This is something that popped up recently where people think it's a game on art to destroy property. There's a process to go through if you have strong feelings toward any of these monuments," Baltimore police media relations Chief T.J. Smith said.Police, the mayor's office and residents have condemned the vandalism.A representative for the mayor told 11 News, "The mayor is very disappointed by this act of vandalism, which was a criminal act, and whomever is responsible should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.""It's disgusting. It's vandalism at its worst, and being a historian person here from Baltimore, I love my statue. I love my city, and when I see stuff like this, I just don't understand it. I don't get it," Rick Smith said."This is Baltimore history. We battled the British and he saw the flag still standing. Now they're going to say there's something racist about this. Our national anthem is for everybody," Michael Fitzgerald said. "I just believe there's a lot of better ways to go about than graffiti," Dominic West said.According to historical documents, Key was a slave owner at one time. He also, as a lawyer, defended slave owners in court, and also defended slaves who wanted to be free in court pro bono.The city's commission on historic art preservation will assess the damage to best figure out how to safely remove the paint and graffiti.Authorities said they are reviewing surveillance video from the area in an effort to identify a suspect.Also on WBALTV.com: