SURREY (NEWS 1130) – Surrey Mounties are trying to figure out what happened after a rainbow crosswalk in Surrey was defaced over the weekend.
White paint was spilled across the crosswalk at Old Yale Road and University Drive, just two weeks after it was painted.
Councillor Vera LeFranc says the vandalism is disappointing. “We are trying very hard to make a city that is free of hate. It feels very much like it was a hate-based act.”
LeFranc says this incident only strengthens the need for next week’s Pride festivities.
“It really shows that change is hard for some people. And we really have to still make sure that representation of everyone in our community is happening and that representation matters.”
A new rainbow crosswalk in #SurreyBC is covered with white paint.
We've reached out to @SurreyRCMP to see if this was an act of vandalism or some kind of accident.
(Video submitted to @NEWS1130) pic.twitter.com/4YDBB0Z1R0
— Peter Wagner (@peterjontheair) June 25, 2018
RCMP have opened a file on the case, but have not said whether this was done deliberately.
Surrey will celebrate pride on June 30 and LeFranc says they expect the crosswalk to be repainted before then.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. It's
disappointing to see the damage at the rainbow crosswalk – but it won't stop our PRIDE. We were there last week taking photos. Today we're investigating the damage. #loveislove pic.twitter.com/LCkKKRtDyp— Surrey RCMP (@SurreyRCMP) June 25, 2018
– With files from Alison Bailey
