Delta Police are investigating the latest vandalism to the Pride flag at Ladner United Church as a hate crime.
Just a week after officers raised a new pride flag outside the church following another incident of vandalism, DPD received a report on Aug. 25 of the flag being vandalized yet again with the damage suspected to have taken place overnight between Aug. 24 and the morning of Aug. 25.
“This is disturbing. We are still investigating the previous incident of the Pride flag being defaced back in early August,” said Acting S/Sgt. Mike Whiteley in a short video Delta Police have released on its social media platforms. “Let me be clear, this is being investigated as a hate crime. Although the vandalism was directed at a physical object, this has a real impact on people in our community. The flag that was vandalism was hung up only a week ago by two of our officers. We know this crime is not indicative of our community. We have great support in our community which has been shown recently at our Pride Picnic.”
Whiteley said police are taking a number of investigative steps and ask that anyone with information contact police at 604-946-4411 or Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
DPD spokesperson Cris Leykauf told the Optimist that DPD have spoken with Ladner United Church about installing surveillance cameras outside the church.
In a post on its Facebook page last Friday, Ladner United said, “It's hard to put into words the emotions we're feeling, but sadness, frustration, and anger come to mind. Anger might not seem like an appropriate response as a church, we're stereotypically supposed to be “nice” and happy, but seeing hate perpetuated over and over again against the pride flag and LGBTQ+ community of Delta is an issue of justice and righteous anger is a valid response.
“We are angry for the harm this causes to the queer community. We are angry for those whose safety is being threatened. We are angry that someone out there thinks it's okay to threaten and hurt others. We are angry.”
The church goes onto say that they won’t let the anger take over and bring us to places that are unhelpful or unloving.
“Instead, we'll use that anger for the flourishing of life, for supporting the Delta Pride Society and the LGBTQ+ of Delta. We'll use our anger to keep going. We will persist,” said Ladner United. “We'll be hanging a new flag in the coming week and, for now, we proudly have a Pride flag hung in our front window -- a donation from the Delta Police Department.
“A big thank you to the Delta Pride Society, who has shown so much love, shared in some tears, and has donated money for the new flag. We are so grateful for the work you do in this community.”
In a post on its Facebook page on Tuesday, the Delta Pride Society said it “stands with our LGBTQ2S+ community and allies. We are here to support, educate, encourage and have compassion on this community. Always.
We are disheartened by the hate crime which took place at Ladner United Church. Their Progress Pride flag was defaced only a week after replacing the previous flag which was also defaced.
This community is so much better than this. Any forms of hate must be called out and stop. Now.
“We thank the Delta Police for their continuing efforts and incredible support - from their investigation to physically hanging the flag at Ladner United Church!
We love our community! Let’s come together to show that All Are Welcome Here! Let’s work to make it a better, kinder, inclusive Delta for everyone!”
