Police Commissioner Michael Harrison stated in a press briefing that the reason for the hearth remains to be being investigated and that the motive is unclear. Preliminary reviews stated police had been contemplating the incident as a potential hate crime.
“That is an ongoing investigation to find out details, to find out the trigger, and proper now, we’re not ready or geared up to find out trigger or the details of the way it began,” Harrison said.
One of many homes is sort of fully destroyed, with one other sustaining critical harm.
You may catch some native protection beneath.
And a bit extra protection right here.
Notably, that is removed from the primary time individuals have focused Pleasure flags, together with in current reminiscence in Baltimore. For instance, as reported by native outlet WMAR 2, in Could, Baltimore Police had been investigating two incidents the place they believed the identical particular person had been seen on digital camera setting two LGBTQ+ Pleasure flags on hearth within the evening. Now, this incident just isn’t explicitly tied to the current fires, however does converse to bigger-picture considerations and fears about LGBTQ+ people and allies being targets for hate.
And who can we thank for that? Largely Republicans. We’re seeing conservatives ignite such hysteria over all the pieces from books to pronouns to well being care to sports activities, it’s no surprise individuals may be extra brazen of their hate and threatening behaviors. In spite of everything, Republicans are basically working on these queerphobia platforms simply in time for midterms, and so they’re not displaying any indicators of slowing down.