Warehouse of Hope couldn’t help others without the help of volunteers
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notllocal.com AUGUST 9, 2023 Volume 5 • Issue 32
The Pride crosswalk was defaced again Friday morning with words of hate and profanity — this photo has been edited. (Mike Balsom)
A large gathering of residents was organized Thursday to be held Friday afternoon, to rally support and unity, but when they arrived, they learned the fourth and worst act of vandalism had occurred in time to greet them. (Mike Balsom)
Residents stand strong against hatred Pride Niagara Mike Balsom The Local
About 100 people gathered at Niagara-on-the-Lake’s rainbow crosswalk Friday morning to stand in solidarity against the repeated displays of hate at the site. When they arrived at the corner of Anderson Lane and Mississagua Street, however, they were greeted by yet another act of vandalism to the important symbol of inclusivity. And this fourth time, the hate messages painted on the crosswalk earlier that day were broader and more direct, including death threats and a reference to the Black community via the “BLM” abbreviation. Old Town resident Suzin
Schiff-Malins mobilized to organize the rally Thursday, after the third incident of vandalism occurred early Sunday morning. That incident followed two prior ones that occurred just days after the installation of the crosswalk in late May. Town staff mobilized quickly to clean up that damage, and the crosswalk was returned to its original state on Tuesday afternoon. But Schiff-Malins felt she couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. She contacted friends and connections via emails, phone calls and text messages two days later. “This affects me viscerally,” Schiff-Malins told The Local. “It affects my heart, and it
affects my humanity. Watching it continually happen, and just waiting for someone to clean it up, to me that’s almost participating in the acceptance of the inevitability of such an act, and I don’t want to accept that.” Schiff-Malins and others were impressed with the turnout for the gathering, which was supported by the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. “Suzin reached out,” said Marah Minor, the town’s community engagement and communications coordinator. “She expressed that she and the others wanted to show their support and stand strong together. So we arranged this on quick notice, posted about it on our social
media, and we’ve had a very good turnout.” The gathering included people of all ages and backgrounds. Many members of the 2SLGBTQAI+ community were there as well as their family members and friends. George Webber strolled over from his home in the neighbourhood to show his support. “I am blown away by the turnout,” said Webber. “This is just from circulating an email. This just shows that there’s way more good here than there is bad.” Webber was shocked at the latest defacing of the crosswalk, and that it included a reference to the Black
warns hate crimes likely to escalate Mike Balsom The Local
Pride Niagara Chair Enzo De Divitis is pleased that the Niagara Regional Police Services are treating the latest vandalism to Niagaraon-the-Lake’s rainbow crosswalk as a hate crime. But to De Divitis, it shouldn’t have taken four incidents for that to happen. “In my mind it definitely was a hate crime from the start,” says De Divitis. “If you’re not a part of a marContinued on page 2 ginalized community, you
don’t see the things that we do. I’ve seen the body language, heard the comments throughout my life. Others think that kind of stuff doesn’t happen here in Niagara. Well, it does.” When the crosswalk at Anderson Lane and Mississagua Street was first vandalized in early June, just days after its installation, De Divitis told The Local that he wasn’t at all surprised by the act. On the contrary, he and other members of
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