Hate Crime
NYPD On The Hunt For Suspects Who Vandalized Stonewall Pride Flag Display
The NYPD has released footage of three white men suspected of snapping dozens of Pride flags into pieces and throwing them on the ground in a troubling act of vandalism during Pride Month at the Stonewall National Monument — a memorial that celebrates a key moment in the gay rights movement.
On Monday, the NYPD released images of alleged suspects in the case. The group of men can be seen in the area after the flags had been vandalized around 3 a.m. Saturday.
Neighbors in Manhattan’s West Village discovered about 60 Pride flags ripped down from a fence, broken apart and strewn across the sidewalk Saturday morning.
“I come almost daily to replace any missing flags on the fence. And then I witnessed the act of vandalism,” said Steven Love-Menendez, who volunteers part of his time replacing an occasional lost flag since the area around Christopher Park and the famous bar became a national monument in 2016.
However, Love-Menendez tells NBC news he’s never seen vandalism to this degree.
“This is the heart and soul of the LGBTQ movement. And this flag display is meant to show hope for the future and honor those who fought for our rights before us,” he said.
On Monday, the NYPD released images of alleged suspects in the case.
The group of men can be seen in the area after the flags had been vandalized around 3 a.m. Saturday. They were last seen heading east on Waverly Place, according to police.
New York City Councilmember Erik Bottcher, who is gay and whose district includes Greenwich Village, also confirmed the vandalism, posting images of the broken rainbow flags on Twitter on Saturday.
Someone vandalized the rainbow flag display on the Stonewall National Monument on Christopher Street, snapping the flag sticks and throwing them on the ground. If anyone thinks this is going to intimidate us or weaken our resolve, they’re mistaken. 🌈 👊 pic.twitter.com/sFdue8NrPG
— Erik Bottcher (@ebottcher) June 10, 2023
“It’s just the latest attack on our community. The latest piece of aggression against our community. Right by The Stonewall. It hurts, it hurts badly,” said NYC Councilmember Erik Bottcher, who added that the community will not be intimidated. “We are not going to be afraid. We are not going to be cowed. We are not going to let them do this to us during Pride month. And they will be held accountable for it.”
Adjusted for better viewing. pic.twitter.com/G1TihuQSko
— Steve Dressler (@stevedressler) June 12, 2023
The NYPD said that the Hate Crime Task Force is now investigating the incident.
