Pride flags face vandalism once again at New York City's Stonewall Monument, the site of the 1969 Stonewall riots that sparked the modern LGBTQ rights movement.
The suspects tore down and broke symbolic flags on Sunday, the third time in a week that they have been targeted, according to the police.
LGBTQ Pride Flags Vandalized at New York's Stone Monument Once Again
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 19: U.S. Park Police patrol at Stonewall National Monument in Manhattan's West Village on June 19, 2023 in New York City. For the third time in just over a week, Pride flags have been vandalized outside the Stonewall National Monument.
New York City's iconic Stone Monument, a symbol of LGBTQ pride and resilience, has fallen victim to a series of vandalizing acts. As per ABC News, the New York Police Department confirmed that dozens of LGBTQ Pride flags had been vandalized at the Stonewall Monument National Park in New York City for the third time.
Vandalism targeting the Pride flags adorning the monument has occurred not once, not twice, but three times within a month. New York Police say that they stumbled upon a total of broken Pride flags lying on the ground at around 8 am on June 10, NBC NY reports.
The Stone Monument holds profound significance as the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ rights movement. It was here, in 1969, that a riot erupted in response to a police raid, igniting a wave of activism that paved the way for significant strides in equality. With the recent incident, some folks are attempting to deface the symbol of inclusivity and acceptance.
ABC News notes that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)'s May 2023 briefing stressed that the violence against LGBTQ+ people is rising. DHS reveals, "These issues include actions linked to drag-themed events, gender-affirming care, and LGBTQIA+ curricula in schools."
Read Also: Southern California School District Votes To Recognize Pride Month, Prompts Protests
Trio Wanted for Vandalizing Pride Flags
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 19: U.S. Park Police patrol at Stonewall National Monument in Manhattan's West Village on June 19, 2023 in New York City. For the third time in just over a week, Pride flags have been vandalized outside the Stonewall National Monument.
As the New York Post reports, on June 10, the New York Police reported seeing three men tearing down multiple LGBTQ Pride flags outside the historic Stonewall Monument.
The NYPD says that the trio is wanted for vandalizing the Pride flags in the area amid the Pride Month celebration this June. The authorities released a video showing two men wearing white shirts and a man sporting a black shirt.
Another footage, which The New York Post got their hands on, showed the wanted trio strolling outside the Stonewall Monument while tearing down the flags from the fence of the historic area.
Another incident occurred after the first one. On June 15, the New York Police reported another wave of vandalism at the Stonewall Monument National Park, involving multiple Pride flags.
As of writing, the police have yet to arrest any suspect for the three waves of vandalism in the histories of the New York City site. The search for the culprits is still ongoing. The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is still investigating the incident.
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