Rainbow crosswalk vandalized, Pride flag set on fire in Hope, B.C.
The small community of Hope, B.C., saw two acts of vandalism targeting Pride displays Thursday morning, incidents police say they are treating as potential hate crimes.
In one incident, the window of the building that houses Hope Community Services was smashed and the Pride flag hanging behind the glass was lit on fire.
Robin Wells, the acting executive director of the non-profit, told CTV News they are now stuck with thousands of dollars worth of damage which has forced them not only to board up their windows but to relocate their meal program.
“The Pride flag was barely damaged that they tried to burn but our office is toast,” said Wells.
“It not only affects us but the community that we feed.”
Just hours before, Hope Pride gathered on the corner of 4th Avenue and Park Street to paint the community’s first rainbow crosswalk.
During the early morning hours on Thursday, Hope Pride say the sidewalk was defaced with anti-LGBTQ2+ messages and slurs.
“One said gays equal scum and the other used a derogatory term that I will not say that starts with the letter 'F,'” said Megan te Boekhorst, the organization's chair, adding that seeing the pictures brought her to tears but also strengthened her resolve to continue to celebrate Pride month.
Shortly after word got around that the crosswalk had been defaced, te Boekhorst says a group of high school students rushed to the intersection and began repainting the rainbow.
Vandalizing and defacing Pride crosswalks, flags and other symbols is not unique to Hope
West Vancouver, White Rock, Port Alberni are just three communities to have their rainbow crosswalks defaced in recent years. Pride flags and banners in Delta continue to be vandalized.
Kelli Paddon, the province's parliamentary secretary for gender equity, believes the attacks targeting the LGBTQ2+ community are growing.
“We need to educate. We need to educate ourselves. We need to stop pretending like human rights are a debate,” she said, while also noting she has seen communities rally together in the wake of these types of incidents.
The building housing Hope Community Services Services is expected to be repaired and reopened to the public in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the meal program has been moved to the building next door.
As of Friday afternoon, no suspects have been identified.
“They are targeting the Pride flag, the Pride community, we’re also investigating it as a hate crime,” said RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Mike Sargent when asked about the status of the investigation.
Mounties are asking the public to come forward with any information about the two incidents by calling 604-869-7750.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.