A rainbow crosswalk at a three-way intersection on Hudson Avenue was damaged again in Salmon Arm last week.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/City of Salmon Arm
June 14, 2023 - 7:00 PM
Salmon Arm RCMP are investigating after a rainbow crosswalk was vandalized last week.
A driver passing the Hudson Avenue crosswalk stopped to do a burnout on June 8 over the crosswalk meant to celebrate the city's queer community.
It comes weeks after a driver left burnout marks on the rainbow crosswalk in April, which was subsequently repaired. It hasn't been fixed yet.
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"This is a step beyond vandalism in our council's eyes," Mayor Alan Harrison said. "This is an act of hate. It's purposeful, directed and totally inappropriate."
The City will repair it again, which he said will now be the third time.
Salmon Arm RCMP Staff Sgt. Scott West said he wouldn't give specific details on the vandalism because it's still under investigation.
He did say a driver could face a fine under the motor vehicle act and potential criminal charges for vandalism by damaging the crosswalk, but it's not clear how the investigation is progressing.
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The City of Salmon Arm was scheduled to repair its rainbow crosswalks on May 15, only to face vandalism again a few weeks later.
"We find citizens of Salmon Arm are fairly accepting of different viewpoints and ways of life," West said. "We don't have anything that we are watching in particular, but we do ensure that everyone has the right to be who they are within the confines of the legal framework."
He added that the actions of a few "shouldn't be a barometer" for the feelings of the community as a whole, but it's not clear whether multiple people have damaged the crosswalk or whether it's the same person.
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