Rainbow crosswalk vandalism at Belleisle school 'hit a nerve,' says mayor of Valley Waters

Randy McKnight, mayor of Valley Waters, a community about 60 kilometres northeastof Saint John, saidthe vandalismof a rainbow crosswalk at the local high school isalarming.

"The community is torn by this," said McKnight."This really hit a nerve, this kind of behaviour."

Monday evening, the crosswalk, whichleads students into the main doors of the school, was painted over with what McKnight said looked like tar.

"They painted the colour right out of it."

Rainbow crosswalks are used in many placesacross the province and around thecountry to show solidarity with members of 2SLGBTQ+ communities.

McKnight said theincident is an illustration of a "hate mentality" that exists among a small portion of the close-knitvillage.

"That someone would take it upon themselves to cause vandalism to that extent, it doesn't stand for any of the values of our village."

WATCH | 'We were alarmed,' says Valley Waters mayor:

Rainbow crosswalk vandalism has torn community apart, says mayor

26 days ago

Duration 1:00

The Pride crosswalk at Belleisle Regional High School was covered with black tar on Monday. Mayor Randy McKnight says the school has now repainted the rainbow andRCMP are investigating.

RCMPhave beennotified and are investigating, he said. Although McKnightcouldn't speak to who may be responsible for the damage, he saidsecurity cameras on school property caught some of what happened.

The school declined to comment on the incidentthrough Jessica Hanlon, a spokesperson for Anglophone School District South. Hanlonsaid the crosswalkhas beenrepaintedand the district would not be commenting further.

BelleisleRegional High School is actually a combined middle and high school. It's one of three schools in the region,which serves apopulation of just over 4,500 people, according to the Valley Watersmunicipalitywebsite.

This is not the first time public displays of support for the 2SLGBTQ+ community have been subject to controversy in the province.

In 2017, a rainbow crosswalk in Miramichi was restored time and time again after it was defaced six times in only a few months.

Two years later, a group of advocates spoke out when hate graffiti was painted on a crosswalk in Riverview.

The city of Monctonhas had its own debateabout rainbow crosswalks, which led to city councillors voting on the issue, to show support,in 2019.

And earlier this year, anadvocacy group pushed back on Woodstock's decision to remove Pride banners fromtown lampposts.

McKnight said that in a places as small as Valley Waters, he hopes those with the intention ofpromotinginclusion will outweigh those who feel the need to dismiss it.

"We want our community to rise above that kind of behaviour," he said.

"It's not just about painting a crosswalk, it's about treating everybody with respect."