KINGSTON -- Kingston Police are treating vandalism to flags at the Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre at Queen's University as a hate-motivated crime.
Police say five flags that hung over the balcony at the centre on Barrie Street in Kingston were "purposely cut."
Speaking to CTV News Ottawa on Wednesday, Kingston Police Sgt. Steve Koopman says it happened between June 29 and 30.
“It looks pretty much like with scissors or a knife cut down the entire middle of all five flags, this seems like this was not something random in nature,” explains Sgt. Koopman. “It appears to be hate-motivated.”
In a statement, Det. Adam Slate said, "This occurred on Barrie Street directly across from City Park and its sports field, and is often used by many and varied members of the Kingston community."
"If you have any knowledge and want to assist us in solving what we believe to be a crime based on racism and hate towards sexual orientation and gender identity then please don't hesitate to contact us."
Speaking with CTV News Ottawa in an interview, Kooopman agrees.
“We’re hoping that whoever did this, whether it’s one or more individuals either has a conscious and comes forward; or more often is the case is one or more of these individuals have spoken about the crime and there may be someone who could come forward who may give information to police.”
In a statement on the Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre’s Facebook page, Director Kandice Baptiste wrote that the flags were raised following a racist event that happened last fall, where a racist note was posted in one of the University’s residence buildings.
Baptiste says, “This act is a further example of the continued violence that our communities face and it’s unacceptable. We deserve better. Acts of cowardice, like this, will not deter us from being visibly proud and supportive of all Indigenous and LGBTQ2S+ folks and communities.”
In a statement, Queens University’s Principal Patrick Deane says, “This new expression of racism and bigotry is all the more reprehensible for occurring in the context of that broader repudiation of racism and hatred that has gripped our society since the death of George Floyd.”
"Queen’s University will do everything within its power to identify the individuals responsible.”
Kingston Police say investigators decided to release the photos following consultation and input from Four Directions, Queen's University and Campus Security and Emergency Services.
"We felt that while this is a sensitive manner in showing these photographs, we wanted the Kingston population to know there is little to no doubt this mischief was deliberately conducted and a symbolic affront to the Indigenous nations and LGBTQ2S+ communities whose flags were desecrated," said Sgt. Koopman.
The Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre has replaced the flags and conducted a ceremony where they were hung inside the centre.
Kingston Police say there are "more permanent plans to securely install them on top of the buildings."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Kingston Police at 613-549-4660, ext. 6366.
“We’re hoping that whoever did this, whether it’s one or more individuals either has a conscious and comes forward,” says Koopman. “Or more often is the case is one or more of these individuals have spoken about the crime and there may be someone who could come forward who may give information to police. No information is too small.”
