Listowel family frustrated after inclusionary flags damaged
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are investigating after half a dozen flags at a Listowel residence were damaged in what the homeowners believe could be an act of hate.
Police say at this point, the motive is unclear and the incident is being investigated as mischief.
The flags targeted line the fence of Kristie Martin’s home and include those supporting Black Lives Matter, pride, abortion rights and Every Child Matters.
“We wanted to put them up to show people that Listowel is a safe place. You be out, you can be proud, you don’t have to live in fear,” Martin said.
Police believe they were damaged sometime over the weekend or on Monday.
“They cut [the flags], and they were really angry about it,” Martin said. “I think the one that they hated the most was the ‘Science is Real’ flag, that’s the one they spent the most time on.”
Police are looking for the person or persons responsible for damaging these flags in Listowel. (Jeff Pickel/CTV Kitchener)
According to Martin, when the family put the flags out in August, their friends bet on how long they would last.
“A few people said it wouldn’t even be a week before they were down, but it was just under a month they made it,” she said.
The incident has left the family frustrated and concerned.
“We were a little shaken, maybe we’ll be a little more careful about going to the door and walking around alone, stuff like that,” she said, adding the family stance committed to diversity and inclusion.
“Even with this kind of hate, we’re not deterred,” Martin said.
Police believe the flags were damaged sometime over the weekend or on Monday. (Jeff Pickel/CTV Kitchener)
Police are currently looking for the person responsible for the damage to the flags.
Martin said with all the security cameras nearby, she is optimistic the culprit will be caught.
“These colours don’t run and neither do we,” she said. “You can keeping doing whatever, we’re not going to leave, it’s not going to scare us.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.