![burning the gay pride flag is.a.hate crime burning the gay pride flag is.a.hate crime](https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/5390059_071119-wabc-pride-flag-img.jpg)
“Unfortunately, this will go on and on,” she said. She said she fully expects the flags to be burned again. “Well, what are you gonna do? Not get more flags? I mean, it’s scary, but it’s also important to stand up to fascism.” I ordered four more right after, and then Micala ordered four more,” Zachary said. When asked if they would replace the flag, Micala and Zachary were both quick to answer in the affirmative. The crime, although terrifying, has only motivated the family to continue standing up for their beliefs, they said. But, as Micala noted, that commenter “got shot down pretty quick” by others. “Why can’t you keep this to yourself?” one stated. “So many people on the Facebook page have been saying, ‘I”m going to put up,” Micala said.Īs of Saturday, there were only a few less than supportive responses on Facebook. The news has already swept across the Riverside Facebook page, with the majority of commenters showing their support for the Gingrich-Gaylords. “What I think happened was, they saw all these flags put up in unison, and then decided to set ours on fire,” Micala said. She said that show of solidarity is likely what inspired the crime.
![burning the gay pride flag is.a.hate crime burning the gay pride flag is.a.hate crime](https://wjla.com/resources/media/3f79d607-c8a6-4bd0-8203-502d88a77755-large1x1_TORCHEDPRIDEFLAGPKG5P_frame_0.jpg)
“I felt this real good energy about seeing all the flags go up in the neighborhood,” Micala said. In the wake of this offense, several more rainbow flags popped up on the block, in a show of solidarity. They also ordered two more flags and gave them to neighbors on the 1100 block of Coolidge Street. A few days later, a neighbor returned it, saying she had found it in her yard. Two weeks ago, the family noticed their flag had been stolen. “My husband thinks they wrapped the flag around the pole before they set it on fire.” That would indicate that time and care went into the act.īut this wasn’t the first time someone messed with the family’s flag. Saturday morning, has left the family rattled. The offense, committed some time between midnight and 7 a.m. Additionally, the police force’s LGBT liaison sergeant, Vanessa Rusco, has been contacted and is aware of the situation. They were told that the neighborhood police would be posting flyers of the crime around the neighborhood. The Gingrich-Gaylord family filed a police report with an officer who stated it would be classified as an aggravated arson and hate crime. He said this was the first time his family has experienced an apparent hate crime, a crime motivated by prejudice on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, or other grounds.
![burning the gay pride flag is.a.hate crime burning the gay pride flag is.a.hate crime](https://wgntv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/12/hypatia-h_6941502a3014fddd6383ebe0733794ea-h_0cb3a1f4b74bca46385f6fc70fa96cc2.jpg)
Zachary has lived in Riverside for seven years with his wife, Micala, and their family. The 3×5-foot flag, which was attached to their house by a flagpole, was completely burned, with the flagpole singed a mere six inches from the house. Zachary Gingrich-Gaylord woke up on Saturday to find that his family’s gay pride flag had been burned to a nub on the porch of their Riverside neighborhood home. The family said their flag was also stollen several weeks ago. Micala Gingrich-Gaylord’s family found their gay pride flag burned early Saturday morning.