On Saturday, Long Beach Pride’s offices became the target of a brazen act of vandalism, as graffiti bearing hateful messages and symbols appeared outside the nonprofit that organizes the city’s beloved Pride festival.
Long Beach police responded around 5:42 p.m. to the 1000 block of Obispo Avenue after receiving a report of the defacement, according to authorities. Officers found derogatory language scrawled across a utility box in front of the building.
In response, Long Beach Pride shared images of the vandalized property on social media, which included anti-LGBTQ+ messages, a swastika, and the acronym “MAGA.” The organization described the act as “deeply concerning” and reminded followers that Pride began as a protest for equal rights, not simply a celebration.
“This is about standing up for our right to live openly and fully, to share in all the privileges and freedoms that every American deserves,” the post read. The group urged residents to respond with love rather than fear, noting that the Long Beach Police Department is working with them to ensure public safety. “Together, we are stronger. Together, we prevail,” the statement concluded.
Mayor Rex Richardson condemned the vandalism as “vile” and said the act was not just an attack on a symbol but on Long Beach’s LGBTQ+ residents, friends, and neighbors. “Our city does not tolerate threats or attacks against our LGBTQ+ community. Period,” he wrote on X.
Following Mayor Richardson’s statement, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn also condemned the hate speech and threats directed at the LGBTQ+ community. Hahn said she called Long Beach Pride President Tonya Martin this morning to offer her support and announced she is providing $2,500 in funding to help the organization upgrade and expand its security camera system.
“This was not just vandalism—it was a threat meant to terrorize the LGBTQ community,” Hahn said. She added that Long Beach Pride has been “a beacon of love and acceptance for decades” and expressed hope that the security upgrades will give staff, volunteers, and community members peace of mind as they continue their work. “You are not alone, you are valued, and we will stand shoulder to shoulder with you to confront this hate,” Hahn said.
This incident comes amid a broader string of hatred and vandalism spreading across Los Angeles County. A series of swastika stickers on Teslas in the San Fernando Valley and West Hollywood has raised concern among residents and drawn condemnation from local leaders.
The most recent case occurred at a shopping center near Laurel Canyon and Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, where a man wearing a distinctive bucket hat was captured on a dash camera placing a sticker on a parked Tesla. When the footage shifted angles, the sticker was revealed to bear a swastika.
In his statement, Richardson emphasized that while the nation faces a rise in hate-fueled acts, Long Beach’s diversity is its strength. “To our LGBTQ+ residents and families: I want you to know that you are valued, loved, and respected. You are an essential part of our city, and we will always fight for your right to live openly, proudly, and with the same dignity that every person deserves,” he said.
The Long Beach Pride statement echoed the mayor’s message, highlighting resilience and unity in the face of hate. “We do not respond with fear or hate toward those who commit such acts. Instead, we hold them in love, trusting that love has the power to dissolve the fear and ignorance that fuels hatred,” the organization wrote.
When KTLA reached out to the Long Beach Police Department, officials said the incident is being investigated as a potential hate- or bias-motivated crime.
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