ANNAPOLIS ROYAL, NS - Annapolis Royal Police believe the driver of a van deliberately defaced the rainbow crosswalk at the bottom of St. George Street Sept. 1.
Police said in a Facebook post today, Sept. 4, they are investigating property damage to the new rainbow crosswalk located between King’s Theatre and Market Square.
“The crosswalk was defaced shortly after midnight early Saturday morning, 1 Sep 18, when a late model dark green/blue Caravan squealed its tires in what appears to be a deliberate act to leave tire marks on the rainbow colours,” police said.
“The Town of Annapolis Royal is a welcoming and inclusive community,” said Mayor Bill MacDonald. “Our rainbow crosswalk symbolizes that inclusiveness and embodies the promise that everyone is respected and safe in our community. Defacing the rainbow crosswalk is an act of ignorance and disrespect.”
The mayor said the act illustrates why rainbow sidewalks and Pride events are still necessary.
“This shows how much this is sadly still an important, current, and vital issue,” said Bleu Rae, an organizer of Annapolis Royal’s first Pride Day event and unveiling of the rainbow crosswalk. “My family was very sad to read about this today.”
The matter is being investigated as public mischief and police will continue to review video footage in attempts to identify the vehicle and suspect. Video shows a vehicle driving across the crosswalk, stopping, backing up and apparently squealing its tires and then repeating the process.
If you have any information regarding this please call police at 902-532-2427 or call Crimestoppers at 902-422-TIPS.
GoTo: https://www.facebook.com/ARPoliceD/?tn-str=k*F
This story was updated to include comments from Pride Day organizer Bleu Rae and also the Annapolis Royal mayor. A description has been added of the video police are reviewing.
