In a disheartening incident that unfolded less than a week after their installation, one of the newly unveiled Pride crosswalks in Smiths Falls became the target of vandalism. The crosswalk, located near the town hall, was defaced with spray paint, although the specific message has not been disclosed to the public.
Mayor Shawn Pankow responded swiftly to the senseless act, condemning it as an act of hate and bigotry. Taking to social media, Mayor Pankow assured the community that the responsible party would be held accountable, stating, “If you are driven by hate and bigotry, and decide you too want to deface these beautiful crosswalks, remember you are on camera, and you will get caught.”
Smiths Falls Police have launched an investigation to apprehend the suspect, with a picture of the vandal released on their socials. That picture can be seen at the top of this story. The Mayor has urged the public to scrutinize the image carefully and report any information that could lead to the identification of the perpetrator.
Mayor Pankow, unyielding in his support for the LGBTQ+ community, emphasized that the act of vandalism was anticipated and the town was prepared to restore the crosswalk promptly. Undeterred by the act, the Mayor declared that the crosswalk would be restored to its original state Monday.
The incident sparked an outpouring of support from residents, who expressed their unwavering solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. Messages such as “Love will always win” and “Shame on them” flooded social media, highlighting the town’s collective rejection of prejudice and intolerance.
Mayor Pankow affirmed those harboring homophobic attitudes had no place in their town. With the perpetrator captured on camera, the community remains resolute in the belief that, as one commenter said, “Justice will prevail and that love will triumph over bigotry.”
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