02/05/2024
Australian based gay magazine DNA reports that police in New Zealand are seeking three individuals who vandalised a rainbow road crossing in Gisborne town. The perpetrators are reportedly supporters of the evangelical Destiny Church and have been identified as two men aged 36 and 46, along with a 45-year-old woman. They allegedly used white paint to cover the rainbow colours of the crossing in the central business district of Gisborne. While acknowledging the fundamental principles of freedom of speech and the right to protest, Inspector Danny Kirk stressed that the vandalism had crossed a line, and police intend to seek reparation costs from the offenders. “This act of vandalism has deeply concerned our diverse community, and such behaviour is unacceptable,” Inspector Kirk says in a statement. A blogger online added "This incident demonstrates again that religious extremists are no upholders of law and order. Instead, they are hate filled, violent and will use vandalism at the drop of a hat to pursue their evil right wing agenda".
