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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Downtown Spokane rainbow intersection defaced again, this time with fire

Spokane police are investigation a case of arson against suspects who poured flammable liquid on a downtown crosswalk mural recognizing the LGBTQ community and lit it on fire. (Alayna Shulman/Spokesman-Review)
From staff reports

Vandals have defaced a downtown street mural recognizing Spokane’s LGBTQ community by pouring a flammable liquid on the road and setting it on fire, according to a news release.

Spokane police are investigating the fire as an arson and said in the news release Thursday afternoon that video surveillance showed multiple people dumping the liquid on the street atop the painting of the LGBTQ rainbow flag and setting it on fire.

“Our symbols of Pride are symbols of love and acceptance,” Spokane Pride posted on Facebook Thursday, “anyone that doubt this needs only to attend our event and see with their own eyes the immense amount of love in our community.”

One of the vandals took their own video.

A new law going into effect in June would make such vandalism a hate crime, according to police.

It’s at least the second time the crosswalk has been vandalized since it was painted in June. In October, someone spilled paint across the colorful display.