Flag Burning “Cowardly” – County Human Rights & LGBTQ+ Boards Issue Statement of Condemnation

Late Saturday night and riding on the heels of condemnation by local Rye groups, the Westchester County Human Rights Commission and the Westchester County LGBTQ+ Advisory Board issued its own statement on the burning of an LGBTQ+ lawn flag in Rye this weekend.

“[We] denounce and condemn the act of hatred committed by a perpetrator who cowardly burned a pride rainbow flag,” the statement said in part.

The full statement is below.

STATEMENT BY THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY LGBTQ+ ADVISORY BOARD

The Westchester County Human Rights Commission and the Westchester County LGBTQ+ Advisory Board stand in solidarity with the Rye City Human Rights Commission and pRYEde Community Group. The Westchester County Human Rights Commission and the Westchester County LGBTQ+ Advisory Board denounce and condemn the act of hatred committed by a perpetrator who cowardly burned a pride rainbow flag on a homeowner’s private property in Rye earlier this weekend.

This is the second recent instance in the County where private property was burned based on hate. Hate has no place in Westchester County. The Westchester County Human Rights Commission and the LGBTQ+ Advisory Board call on everyone in the community to speak out against all forms of hatred, bigotry and intolerance in our community and to come together.

These acts remind us how much work needs to be done in the struggle for equality and the fight against hate. The Westchester County Human Rights Commission and the LGBTQ+ Advisory Board value dignity, safety and mutual respect of all people.