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Manhattan Beach Pride Flag Incident Under Review

Jun 09, 2021 08:41AM ● By Jeanne Fratello
A TikTok video that shows kids "disparaging and disrespecting" the pride flag hanging outside the Manhattan Beach City Hall is under review by city police.

The video shows a young person pulling down the pride flag and apparently riding away on a scooter while other kids on scooters are heard cheering.

However, the flag remains intact and is currently flying over City Hall. 

The city is aware of the video, according to Manhattan Beach city spokesperson George Gabriel, who added that the Manhattan Beach Police Department has the video and is currently reviewing it. "The flag continues to fly and no harm has been done to it," he told DigMB on Tuesday afternoon.

DigMB followed up with MBPD Officer Chris Ineguez on Wednesday morning. Ineguez confirmed that police had seen the video but it was unclear if they would be able to identify the kids in the video. Furthermore, the flag was up by the time the video was seen, so it is not clear who might have raised the flag back up; whether it was the kids after they filmed the video, or someone else. 

Ineguez emphasized the importance for a bystander to call 911 if they see an illegal action taking place.

The video earned a swift condemnation from PFLAG Manhattan Beach, the local chapter of the PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) organization.

"We are aware of a recent video of kids disparaging and disrespecting the pride flag hanging outside of Manhattan Beach City Hall,"  wrote PFLAG Manhattan Beach in a statement. "We are proud of this visible symbol of pride in our city. We condemn the actions of a small group of young people who don't recognize the symbolic importance of this flag. This is the reason #PRIDE exists and PFLAG is here to educate and open hearts and minds to a more inclusive South Bay."

State Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi joined in to share his dismay at the incident. 

"This is shameful and has no place in the South Bay," he wrote in a statement on Instagram. "We welcome diversity, especially during Pride Month."

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is celebrated each year in the month of June. The rainbow pride flag is currently flying outside City Hall alongside the American flag and the flag of the state of California.

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