Editor's note: The original version of this article misspelled Matie Fricker's name. We sincerely apologize for this mistake.
The city unveiled their display for the Pride crosswalks painted rainbow colors on historic Route 66, at the intersection of Morningside Drive and Central Avenue — but that display was then vandalized a few days later.
A video uploaded to Facebook showed a group of motorcyclists taking turns skidding on the crosswalk.
Mayor Tim Keller called the actions of the motorcyclists a “symbolic act of hate,” and said they “will not be accepted.”
“No doubt from what I’ve seen on Facebook, on purpose, it is, in many ways was an act of hate,” he said. “That is much more than a crosswalk, that is a symbol of our city’s commitment to inclusion, and that’s why when you deface it, you stand up on the wrong side of that argument,”
Keller said the act of vandalism will be prosecuted just like any other act of vandalism.
The response to the crosswalks was largely positive.
Matie Fricker, a local member of the LGBT community and Nob Hill business owner, posted a video to Facebook to show the crosswalks last Thursday.
"I just wanted to post this video letting everyone know that our city has put out a rainbow crosswalk! It is such a delight, I am so delighted to walk out and see this incredible show of pride," Tricker said. This is the first year the city organized the crosswalk to be painted this way, and June 28 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York—.”
The paint job for the crosswalk cost the city roughly $30,000.
Lauren McDonald is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @DailyLobo.
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