Two years in a row, someone has taken
down pride flags on Harrison Blvd
in recognition of Pride Month from
community members rallied to get new
flags hung up right in their place.
But those aren't the only
flags getting targeted.
North End couple says that their flag
has been taken down three Times Now,
and they say the problem in
their neighborhood is escalating.
They tell us this time their flag
was set on fire and the Boise Police
Department says this is now under
investigation as a motivated act of
prejudice in the North End couple.
You know they're facing this head on.
They spoke with Andrew Bartlein.
The Boise North End is hard to beat.
Ohh, I love this neighborhood.
It's beautiful. It's community driven.
It's walkable, bikeable.
It's connected to nature.
You're so close to downtown.
It's been home to Brett Perry.
Jimmy, good to see you.
And for 13 years, he and his husband wouldn't
have it any other way except for one.
It's really just recently,
within the last six or seven months
that these attacks have happened.
Brent came home Wednesday to this y'all.
This is our progress flag, a symbol of
inclusivity burned right through the fabric.
It sent a message to Brett and his husband.
It feels like it's escalating.
The burning of the flag feels
like it is pushing it forward.
Into a scary moment
pushed forward from the previous two
flags, because twice before their
flags have been targeted or stolen.
A neighbor down the way had
a progress flag stolen.
So I think it's common.
I don't know if people
are reporting it, but Brett did, and the
flag burning at his house is now under
investigation as an incident of bias.
That's an act motivated by
intolerance or prejudice.
But according to Boise police,
this wasn't the only vandalism reflected
Tuesday toward the LGBTQ community.
The Community Centre on Orchard
boarded up their windows.
That's after someone smashed
2 separate panes. I'm
not surprised there.
People are feeling able to be
violent and to be, you know,
aggressive towards each other.
It's it's the political nature
that we're in right now.
It's very polarized.
BPD suspects the incidents could have
happened roughly an hour apart, but there's
no information suggesting
the incidents are related.
The investigation is ongoing.
I think that is a sort of a
a wake up call that.
We just all need to be aware of
well, the fabric of the
flag is easily replaceable.
There's melted pieces on the floor.
That's not what concerns Brett the most.
Don't let these people push you out.
This neighborhood is Brett's home,
and this flag is his community.
Let's move forward with kindness.
You know? We we're all.
Wanna take care of this community?
We all want to live our best lives.
And as freely and as proudly as we can and.
We have to support each other
in that we don't be silenced.
By this we hang more flags.
After the first flag was taken down,
Brett and his husband installed a doorbell
camera to try to stop any further problems.
The last two times people have gone
after their progress flags that
doorbell camera had been blocked,
which to them suggests this isn't a
careless act or someone who isn't thinking
mindlessly and just causing trouble.
Brett is upset and they're hoping
that there is some good that comes
from this community coming together,
things of that aspect.
And he already says between his
conversations with his neighbors,
that's exactly what's happened so far Joe.
Well as you mentioned,
that is escalating incident there.
And lighting a flag on fire that could
very easily catch a house on fire.
And even if that wasn't the intent,
yeah, the whole front structure,
their houses would too.
So I mean, that that was immediate
concern they had as well. And
you know, those homes in the North End are,
I mean, some of them are
right on top of each other,
so escalating there. All right.
Andrew Hartline reporting.
Thank you so much.
We're going to step aside
2 eights back after this.