Defaced LGBTQ Pride Month Flags Reported Near Stonewall National Monument, According to Police Report.
Flags displaying vibrant hues, situated near the Stonewall National Monument in the vibrant Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, known for marking a pivotal moment in the contemporary LGBTQ rights struggle, were stolen and damaged on Thursday night, as stated by the New York City Police Department to CNN.
Police received a complaint early on Friday, just before 8 a.m. ET, concerning missing flags from the park where the monument resides.
A preliminary probe found that an unidentified individual removal and destruction of approximately 160 flags in the vicinity occurred around 8 p.m. Thursday, according to the authorities. This individual then disappeared from the scene.
No reported injuries have transpired, and no arrests have been made. The investigation is still in progress, reported the police department on Friday evening.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed his disapproval of the vandalism on a social media platform, X, stating, "Hate has no place in our city, and nothing will change that."
Adams commemorated June as LGBTQ Pride Month during a gathering at Gracie Mansion Conservancy on Thursday, expressing his admiration for the LGBTQ community. On X, he wrote, "We honor the LGBTQ+ community and acknowledge them during Pride and all year round. We’ll always stand up for them, and we will apprehend whoever defaced the Stonewall monument."
New York Attorney General Letitia James deemed the vandalism "repulsive" upon seeing images of the damaged and tattered flags shared by New York City Council member Erik Bottcher on X.
Bottcher's post depicted a mound of LGBTQ flags on the ground near the Stonewall monument and Christopher Park.
"Anyone who believes such actions will intimidate our community is dead wrong," Bottcher wrote.
In 2016, President Barack Obama designated the Stonewall National Monument area, encompassing Christopher Park and the famous Stonewall Inn, as the first US national monument commemorating lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights.
The area served as the location of the 1969 Stonewall uprising and protests, which are frequently cited as a catalyst for LGBTQ rights advancements in the US.
Last June, the NYPD reported that its Hate Crime Task Force probed at least three incidents during Pride Month in which the Stonewall National Monument’s flags were either damaged or removed, as previously reported by CNN.
CNN’s Meron Moges-Gerbi and Nicole Chavez contributed to this report.
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The act of vandalism against the LGBTQ Pride Month flags is a disheartening incident that affects us all, as it goes against the values of inclusivity and respect that our city stands for.
The authorities are currently investigating the incident, and Mayor Adams has made it clear that whoever is responsible will be held accountable.
