Crime & Safety
Pride Flags Burned Outside Harlem Gay Bar On Eve Of Pride Month
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has ordered the state police hate crimes taskforce to provide the NYPD with any resources they may need.
HARLEM, NY — Two Pride flags were set on fire outside a gay bar in Harlem early Friday morning, the day before Pride Month kicked off in the United States and elsewhere.
An NYPD spokesperson told Patch that around 12:15 a.m., police recieved a 911 call in regards to two Pride flags that were set alight.
The flags were hanging outside the Alibi Lounge, located on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard between 138th and 139th Streets.
Find out what's happening in Harlemfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Officers that responded to the scene saw that the two flags had been burned to an extent, the NYPD spokesperson said. Photos of the burned flags were posted to the lounge's Instagram account.
On Saturday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a statement saying he had ordered the State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to provide the NYPD with any resources they would need to assist in the investigation.
Find out what's happening in Harlemfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"I am disgusted by the burning of a Pride flag outside and LGBTQ bar in Harlem early yesterday morning," Cuomo said. "This was a despicable and cowardly act made worse by the fact that it happened on the eve of Pride month."
The investigation is ongoing.
You can read Cuomo's full statement below:
I am disgusted by the burning of a Pride flag outside an LGBTQ bar in Harlem early yesterday morning. There is no place for hate in New York. I am directing the @NYSPolice Hate Crimes Task Force to provide NYPD with any resources needed to investigate this repugnant incident. pic.twitter.com/6MgkxmnHCk
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 1, 2019
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