More Pride Flags Destroyed At Stonewall Monument This Month: NYPD

WEST VILLAGE, NY - Over a dozen pride flags were destroyed at Christopher Street Park last weekend in what serves as the second vandalism reported at the park this Pride month.

A roaming bigot broke 15 pride flags planted at the West Village park - the site of the Stonewall National Monument - on Saturday at about 8 p.m., police said.

The Stonewall National Monument honors the 1969 Stonewall Riots, which sparked the modern day LGBTQ+ rights movement.

A video of the vandal, described as having a slim build and brown hair, was released by Tuesday by the NYPD.

🚨WANTED-CRIMINAL MISCHIEF Hate Crime: 6/22/24 at approx. 8PM, at Christopher St Park @NYPD6PCT Manhattan. The suspect broke approximately 15 pride flags & fled the location. Any info call us at 800-577-TIPS or anonymously post to https://t.co/TRPPY5zHV2 Reward UP to $3,500 pic.twitter.com/q8b7szwsMF
— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) June 25, 2024

The same monument was vandalized a week earlier by someone who who snapped flag sticks and stole three-fourths of the flags placed around the perimeter of the park, New York City Council Member Erik Bottcher said.

Another incident from earlier this month on June 13 involved an individual burning Pride decorations at 22nd Street in Chelsea, the official added.

"Anyone who thinks this will intimidate our community is badly mistaken," Bottcher said of the June 13 incident.

Sixteen anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes were reported in the first quarter of 2024, according to NYPD statistics, compared to 17 in the first quarter of 2023 and eight in the first quarter of 2020.

News of the vandalized site also comes on the heels of a new bill passed this month that will rename the Christopher Street-Sheridan Square subway station to honor the Stonewall National Monument.

The bill sponsored by Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assembly Member Deborah Glick passed the New York State Senate last Wednesday.

The station will be renamed to “Christopher Street-Stonewall National Monument Station."

“This change will memorialize the history of the modern LGBTQ civil rights movement and inspire NY to demand justice and equality for all,” Hoylman-Sigal said in a tweet on X.

-With reporting by David Luces.