Hamilton police investigate theft of Pride flags from 4 Catholic schools, 2 residences
CBC
Police are investigating after Pride flags were stolen from four Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic School Board (HWCDSB) schools and two private residences on Hamilton Mountain.
All six flags were stolen over the last six days, police say.
Marnie Jadon, communications manager for the school board, confirmed the flag thefts.
They occurred at:
Police said it's an "assault investigation with evidence of hate motive."
Investigators say it's unclear whether the thefts are connected and are asking anyone with information to contact them.
In a news release, Hamilton police said hate crime is unacceptable and can negatively affect communities.
In recent months, some groups have pushed against Catholic school boards flying rainbow flags for June's Pride month.
At the end of May, York Catholic District School Board in Vaughan, Ont., voted against flying the flag this year, after months of debates by advocates and critics. The debates became so heated that police were called to three different school board meetings.
In the same week, a video surfaced of Niagara Catholic District School Board (NCDSB) trustee Natalia Benoit comparing the Pride flag to a Nazi flag.
Benoit has since denied the comparison, saying "deeply religious children are also being harmed" by debates over whether the Pride flag should be flown or not. She did not elaborate on how they are being harmed.
Other Catholic schools in Ontario have meanwhile embraced the Pride flag and its message.
St. Denis Catholic School, part of the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), raised a Pride flag to show the importance of inclusion and acceptance.
The school also unveiled a permanent Pride flag art installation at the school.
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