Police in Temecula, California, are investigating a series of thefts and vandalism that saw several Pride flags stolen and a swastika spray-painted on the outside of a local LGBTQ+ inclusive church in recent weeks.
“When I see a symbol like this, it’s a symbol that is a hate symbol that hits every group,” Temecula United Methodist Church Pastor Drew Davis told NBC Los Angeles.
Davis told the outlet he believes his church was targeted for hosting LGBTQ+ events, specifically this year’s Temecula Valley Pride Celebration.
The day after the October 17 event took place in the church’s parking lot, a Pride flag and an American flag that flew outside the church were stolen. Replacement flags were also stolen within the week.
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Early the following week, church staff discovered that vandals had spray painted a swastika on the building’s back wall and notified police.
Davis told Patch that he didn’t initially report the incident as a hate crime. But he said, “I feel now that this should be considered exactly that.”
However, according to NBC LA, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department...