Police in Tempe, Arizona are investigating the burning of a Pride flag outside of the city hall building. The incident comes just months after a bomb threat targeted a local LGBTQ+-owned coffee shop.
The city chose to hang a Progress Pride flag with the Tempe logo alongside the American, Arizona, and Juneteenth flags on the flagpole outside of city hall, but police say someone took it down and set it on fire.
City Manager Andrew Ching condemned the vandalism: “This act of aggression does not represent our community. Hate has no place in Tempe.
We are committed to championing diversity, inclusion, and equity and ensuring that our community is safe and welcoming for everyone.” The city has since replaced the pride flag and repaired damage to the burned flag pole.