SPOKANE, Wash. – A day after Spokane’s downtown Pride mural near Riverfront Park was doused in something flammable and set on fire by vandals, Spokane City Council members were joined by leaders of several local nonprofit organizations and other elected officials at a Friday press conference to condemn the act.
“In Spokane, we embrace everyone regardless of race, sexual orientation, religious belief or nationality,” said Council President Betsy Wilkerson.
“We are concerned by the recent events, but we know that we’re going to come together and continue to support our community, because downtown is a place where everyone is welcome,” said Downtown Spokane Partnership CEO Emilie Cameron.
City leaders said accountability is a crucial next step, citing a state law passed last legislative session that automatically makes an act like this a hate crime–however that law doesn’t take effect for another few weeks, in early June.
“Just this week I’ve been having conversations with the state attorney general’s office about creating a hate crimes hotline in Spokane County,” Council Member Zack Zappone said.
“It’s not enough to just show up in arms, or side by side with people who are experiencing these hate crimes, it’s our responsibility to do something about it, and here’s a chance,” said Expo 50th Anniversary Program Director Matt Santangelo. “It starts every day. It’s habits, it’s how we show up for each other, our families, our homes, each other, our communities and neighborhoods. We have to show people some love.”
Wilkerson said she’s working with Spokane Police and nearby businesses to increase video surveillance and patrols in order to catch the people responsible.
SPD says their investigation into Thursday morning’s vandalism is open and ongoing, adding they have surveillance video of the act taking place, though that video hasn’t been released to the public.
NonStop Local asked Wilkerson how the city will work to prevent copycat actors from re-vandalizing the mural after it’s cleaned and repainted, as happened several times last year.
“I wish I could, but it’s human nature,” Wilkerson replied. “I can’t control people. People are going to do what they’re going to do, but that does not mean we have to condone it, or by being silent be complicit in the act. This was hate, and we’re going to call it what it is. We’re not going to condone it, and we’re not going to support it and we’re not going to be quiet about it.”
“It is disappointing waking up and finding out that a giant project that we’ve worked on has been destroyed again,” said Shelby Allison, director of Spokane Arts’ Asphalt Art program. “But, it’s nice to see the support that we get when something like this happens.”
Spokane Arts is the organization who paints the crosswalks and intersections–their Asphalt Art program is fully funded by donations and the city’s traffic calming fund, through revenue generated specifically from red light and school zone camera tickets.
Both Spokane Arts and the city say they will continue to clean off and repaint the murals and the crosswalks if vandalism happens again.
“Because if we stop it feels like we are acquiescing to them, and we are afraid,” Wilkerson said. “Well I just have to look back at the Civil Rights Movement, if we stopped showing up we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
“I’m excited to start planning again and putting it back,” Allison said. “Going forward let’s hope this is the last time we have to do that.”
“Love always wins, hate will resist it, but as in every generation we must be vigilant and we must work together,” said Bishop Gretchen Rehberg of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane. “We can get tired on our own but together we can stand united, together we can make sure that love will always win and that love is always seen as love.”
If you have any information that can help detectives investigate this vandalism, you’re encouraged to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233, or by filing an online report by clicking here.
