An LGBTQ Pride flag raised outside the Tempe, Arizona, city hall building was taken down and burned outside the government building, according to city officials.
The flag was raised next to the American, Arizona State, and Juneteenth flags, but the Pride flag was the only one taken down and destroyed.
Now, City Manager Andrew Ching says that the act of vandalism is being investigated by police, AZCentral reported.
“This act of aggression does not represent our community. Hate has no place in Tempe,” Ching said in a statement. “We are committed to championing diversity, inclusion, and equity and ensuring that our community is safe and welcoming for everyone.”
The incident is not the first attack against the LGTBQ community in Tempe.
In February, an LGBTQ-owned coffee shop, Bick Road Coffee, received a bomb threat while a Drag Story Hour event was taking place.
The owner of the coffee shop, Gabe Hagen, spoke with KPNX-TV about the incident, saying that no bomb was ever found but that police had told him far-right extremists were in the area that day.
“That was an unfortunate instance of hate,” Hagen said. “It’s just misguided, unfortunately, and that’s disappointing to see.”
The investigation into the bomb threat has also recently been turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, according to KPNX.
Officials in Tempe have since replaced the pride flag that was destroyed, and Mayor Corey Words shared that the community will not accept any hate towards its citizens.
“Cities are great because of the people who live in them,” Woods said in a statement. “We will not stand by while someone tries to threaten, bully and intimidate members of our community. We will continue our efforts to make our city stronger, even more welcoming, and even more inclusive. We support our LGBTQ+ community. We stand as one with them.”
Phoenix Pride spokesperson Jeremy Helfgot shared in a statement with AZCentral that his organization was appalled by the situation.
“The fact that this occurred in the city of Tempe is incredibly disheartening and alarming. Tempe as a city has been an incredible ally to the LGBTQ+ community,” Helfgot said.
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