‘It’s driven by hate:’ Nanaimo rainbow crosswalk, pride mural defaced
NANAIMO — The only two public art pieces showing pride and inclusivity with Nanaimo’s LGBTQ2+ community were destroyed over the weekend.
Black paint and a roller was used on both the rainbow crosswalk at the Bastion St. and Commercial St. intersection, along with a large mural on the Urban Art Gallery on Wallace St.
Lauren Semple, one of the artists of the mural, told NanaimoNewsNOW her concern immediately went to vulnerable members of Nanaimo’s LGBTQ2+ community.
“These crosswalks are signs of solidarity with the community, it’s also a symbol of social inclusion. When city’s paint these crosswalks, it’s meant to say ‘hey, we see you, you’re represented here, you belong here and we’ve got your back’. For both to get targeted like this, it’s quite obvious it’s driven by hate.”