Botwood Pride crosswalk spray-painted with 'disturbing' message

RCMP are investigating a case of mischief and damage to property in Botwood, N.L., after someone spray-painted a Pride crosswalk meant to celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

The crosswalk was spray-painted with the words "walk of sham," but RCMP believe it may have been intended to say "walk of shame." 

RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jolene Garland said in a statement that the vandalism occurred sometime between the evening hours of July 2 and the morning of July 3.

The statement described the message as "disturbing."

Grand Falls-Windsor Pride spokesperson Lexi MacDonald said the vandalism was not a "harmless prank." 

"It was a deliberate attempt to shame people simply for existing," MacDonald said in a statement. "But the shame is not ours to carry. We are not going anywhere."

MacDonald urges those responsible for the vandalism to reflect on what they did.

"The queer and trans community in Central Newfoundland is growing, healing, and standing taller than ever, and no spray paint in the world can cover that up," said MacDonald.

This isn't the first instance of vandalism potentially targeting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the area. 

Last month, a Grand Falls shop window with a Pride flag was shot out. 

Community upset

Trudy Stuckless, with the Botwood Mural Arts Society, said she was shocked by the vandalism. 

Stuckless said she thinks it was targeted and that someone was trying to send a hateful message to the 2SLGTBQ+ community. 

"For 15 years we've had murals that are at street level," said Stuckless, "Never has there been even one of them defaced through the years."

Stuckless said other people in the community are shocked and hurt by the vandalism. 

"With a history of having art all around town, never being touched … everybody was quite surprised by it and saddened by it," she said.

RCMP are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact them. 

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