'White power' symbol is found at the scene of a blaze at a civil rights center, officials say

No one was injured in the blaze Friday at the Highlander Center in New Market. The center has been involved in fighting social injustice for decades, and played a role in the civil rights movement, including hosting leaders such as Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks.

"While we are physically unhurt, we are saddened about the loss of our main office," the center said in a statement. "The fire destroyed decades of historic documents, speeches, artifacts and memorabilia from movements of all kinds, including the civil rights movement."

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and agents from the state bomb and arson division are investigating the blaze at New Market -- about 25 miles from Knoxville.

While it did not provide specifics, the sheriff's department said it's investigating "a symbol that was painted in the parking area of the office" to determine whether it was linked to any individual or group. Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Coffey told the Knoxville News Sentinel that the graffiti was a hashtag-like symbol used by several groups, but "not a traditional, throw-it-in-your-face symbol that you would immediately recognize."

Coffey said his office is working with another law enforcement agency to confirm the context of the symbol.

In a statement, the Highlander Center said it found a symbol "connected to the white power movement" spray-painted on the parking lot connected to the main office.

"While we do not know the names of the culprits, we know that the white power movement has been increasing and consolidating power across the South, across this nation, and globally," the center said in a statement.

The Highlander Center describes itself as a facility that works with people fighting for justice, equality and sustainability.

"Through popular education, language justice, participatory research, cultural work and intergenerational organizing, we help create spaces where people gain knowledge, hope and courage, expanding their ideas of what is possible," it says on its website.

Other incidents reported in Oklahoma

The incident came a day after racist graffiti was painted on a building that houses regional offices for the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma.

"Vandals ... spray painted hateful graffiti on our Oklahoma City regional office. The Oklahoma Democratic headquarters was also targeted. The Chickasaw Nation is assisting local, state and federal authorities in the investigation," Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby posted on Facebook on Thursday.

"It is very disheartening to see our building defaced by this type of hateful message which is so out of place for Oklahoma. It is important to move past this isolated incident and focus our attention on the important work we do."

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CNN's Joe Sutton contributed to this report

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