ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The vibrant rainbow street mural in St. Pete's Grand Central District, a symbol of inclusivity and support for the LGBTQIA+ community, has become a target for vandals just days before the commencement of Pride Month. This act of defacement has left some locals disheartened and concerned about the safety of the community.
The St. Petersburg Police Department received a report of tire marks on the mural, located on Central Avenue and 25th Street, last Friday. An officer was dispatched to investigate the incident, which is now an ongoing open investigation. Unfortunately, just a few days later, another incident occurred when someone performed donuts on the mural, causing further damage. Surveillance footage from a nearby bar captured the act in the early hours of Wednesday morning, around 2:45 a.m.
Lee Manuel, owner of Cocktail St. Pete, a bar situated near the mural, expressed his disappointment at the repeated acts of vandalism. He revealed that the mural had recently been restored in anticipation of Pride Month, as is done every year. The defacement was particularly disheartening considering the significance of the mural in the local community.
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"The first instance was really disheartening, knowing it was just recently repainted and the symbol that it is for the community here," Manuel said. "Hearing about it happening again... was just unbelievable."
In light of these incidents, Manuel plans to implement increased security measures at his bar during Pride Month. These acts of vandalism coincide with a warning issued by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security regarding possible targeting of LGBTQIA+-related events and venues by foreign terrorist organizations or their supporters during the upcoming Pride Month.
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"This raises awareness to everybody in the community that we need to be diligent," Manuel emphasized. We need to be focused and pay attention to what's happening outside and who's doing that. If you see something that looks wrong, say something. Reach out. Call the police. Let them know. It's better to be safe than sorry."
While saddened by the incidents, Manuel remains optimistic about St. Pete's inclusive and accepting nature. As a lifelong resident with deep roots in the community, he believes that these acts of vandalism are the actions of a few individuals and not representative of the city as a whole.
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"It's unfortunate, and having been a lifelong resident born and raised here, my family has been in St. Pete for 110 years, it's not the St. Pete that I knew when I grew up here," Manuel lamented. "Again, a lot of things have changed, but it's still a great community to live in. It's a very accepting and inclusive community. I just think there's a few bad actors."
As a precautionary measure, several businesses in the vicinity of the mural have redirected their security cameras to monitor the street and the mural, ensuring that any further incidents are captured and reported. The community remains vigilant in its efforts to protect both the mural and the values it represents.
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Notice the white truck not only baked the tires but was also rolling coal. He should get extra points for that.
Those folks are alway on a ManHunt.
Manhunt? Very exclusive. How about personhunt, peoplehunt? My fweeeeeings are hurt with this sexist, homophobic out of date manhunt word.
Oh, Heavens to Betsy! Someone left a tire mark on the road! Maybe deranged perverts shouldn’t be defacing the road by forcing you to celebrate their sexual deviancy in the first place.
who f’ing CARES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!………”Man Hunt”…was He REALLY a SHE Pretending to be a Man??????? Or a Real Man Pretending to be a Woman dressed up like a Man? or was it Both, trying to be Fluid?????????? Was it “identified as “It” “They” , “Them” Was it a Group of Trannys “identifying as one Man??????? What if the person who did this brave act of righteousness was identifying as the President was crapping in their pants and had a moment when He/She put their foot on the gas and brake in a moment of confusion at the same time…what if they/it was identifying as Not doing it???? What if they were “identifying” as doing something Good for the sick mentally ill LGBGTQRSTUV wxyz Community??? We Really need to have Compassion on the driver…..
all day, everywhere all over the country folk are doing donuts…. why should this be specially excluded?
The police really don’t have anything better to do? Play another reason why I don’t support the place. They take insane orders and they follow them like little Nazis. Thugs of Guns.
What do you mean “MAN Hunt”?????????? what if it was a Woman…kind of sexist…huh???What if it was a man, identifying as a woman, dressed up like a man??? What if it was one of those who do not identify as mentally ill people of the lgbgtqrstuvwxyz community identifying as a person doing a good deed to promote attention to the people (who identify as not sick) community of people (who do not identify as) pedophiles?? What about them, they, it ? What if the person driving the vehicle was fluid identifying as a road cleaning crew? We must have inclusion and sympathy for what the driver must be going through. Why not call it a “Them Hunt” an “It Hunt” a “They Hunt” What if it was a woman identifying as a man, dressed up like a woman that just got her panty hose caught on the break and gas at the same time, identifying as being a Drag racer. What if they identify it as Not a crime but rather an expression of their Love for the community. We must not jump to conclusions.
Pisses me off knowing tax dollars go toward this pride bullcrap!!!
I real burn-out with studded racing slicks would be nice.