Swastika defacing Pride crosswalk in Tisdale, Sask. being investigated

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A recent act of vandalism to a Pride crosswalk in Tisdale, Sask. under investigation by police is “targeted hate” toward LGBTQ+ individuals, says Andrew Matheson, president of the Saskatchewan Pride Network.

A photo posted to a Tisdale-area social media page earlier this week shows a black swastika spray-painted over a rainbow Pride crosswalk outside the RECPlex, which houses the town’s high school, town office and Suncrest College. Tisdale is approximately 215 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.

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“It’s super disheartening to see that type of vandalism in Saskatchewan, in a small community like Tisdale, that type of targeted hate against a Pride symbol that’s supposed to empower and show support, safety and inclusion,” said Matheson, whose organization supports rural Pride groups, on Friday.

“There’s a lot of queer individuals that feel as though they already have division in rural and remote communities and so to have a symbol like this reinforce that is just very difficult.”

Having reached out to local organizers in Tisdale, Matheson said many in the community are feeling “emotional distress and increased anxiety” over this display and its anti-LGBTQ+ messaging.

To Matheson, the history of the symbol and Nazis’ treatment of LGBTQ+ people during the Holocaust heightens the violence of this act, above and beyond past cases of skid marks or graffiti on Pride crosswalks.

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“That is a very raw logo to anyone, but to me its more than just an act of vandalism. It’s a hate crime, something like that, and it should be looked upon as a threat,” Matheson said Friday.

RCMP seeking information

Saskatchewan RCMP are actively investigating the incident as vandalism involving a “hateful symbol” and is asking for the public’s help.

RCMP believe the painting took place between 9:45 p.m. and 4 a.m. the night of June 11. Anyone with information is asked to contact Tisdale RCMP at 1-306-878-3810 or the Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

In a statement on social media Thursday, the Town of Tisdale offered a $1,000 reward for information that leads to charges in the incident. Mayor Roy Skoglund pledged to personally contribute to that reward, the statement said.

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“Such senseless damage not only affects public property but also undermines the safety, pride, and spirit we work hard to uphold in our town,” said the town’s statement.

Tisdale’s rainbow flag crosswalk was painted on Monday in celebration of Pride month, by students from the Tisdale Middle & Secondary School Gay-Straight Alliance.

“I just feel extremely hurt and I feel for those individuals that had to walk into school to start their day, in their safe space at their education facility, and that’s the message they see,” Matheson said.

A spokesperson from the town office said contractors had been hired to sandblast the swastika off on Friday.

Politicians denounce the act online

Premier Scott Moe responded to the incident in a comment on a social media post from local storm chaser Greg Johnson, saying the defacement of the crosswalk is “completely unacceptable and must not be tolerated.”

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“Hate has no place in our province and it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure that our communities are safe and welcoming places for everyone,” wrote Moe.

Randy Hoback, a federal MP who represents the Tisdale area, also condemned the act online, as did Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck and critic for LGBTQ+ affairs Nathaniel Teed.

“This act of hate stands in direct opposition to everything Saskatchewan is,” said Teed in a statement. “Ultimately, this is exactly why Pride matters — to stand up, be visible, and celebrate the diversity that makes our communities stronger.”

Matheson said it’s positive to see leaders speak out against hateful rhetoric, but that it’s hard to reconcile those words with actions from some politicians.

He said the provincial government’s Bill 137, requiring students to have parental permission to use preferred gendered pronouns in school, hangs over any statement made by the premier in support of LGBTQ+ people in Saskatchewan.

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“Because of that bill that was put forward, I’m restricted from going in and supporting the staff in that school, or the Gay-Straight Alliance who were involved in painting that crosswalk, because I represent a Pride organization,” he said, referring to the government’s ban on bringing in third-party groups for sexual education in schools, which is broad enough to apply to Pride/LGBTQ+ topics.

“It hinders actually putting the words the premier spoke in that comment into action,” he added.

“I appreciate the comment of it not being appropriate, but there needs to be more from the political level.”

lkurz@postmedia.com

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