VIDEO: Pride flag repeatedly torn down at Bend coffee shop, owners ask for help
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The owners of an LGBTQ-friendly coffee shop in Downtown Bend are asking for change after the pride flag hanging outside their storefront has been ripped down roughly seven times in the past six months.
Turtle Island Coffee co-owners Beth Brady and Teh Sanchez told KOIN 6 News that the flags have been targeted by various pedestrians since the coffee shop opened in June. During the early morning hours of Feb. 18, yet another flag was torn down, and the owners say they’ve had enough.
“Last time the flag was stolen there was also spit on the door, which felt especially hateful,” Brady said.
The owners say that they installed security cameras after multiple flags were stolen before the business opened its doors, including one flag that was blatantly ripped down in the middle of the day.
“If people were willing to do this in broad daylight, that felt dangerous,” Brady said. “What’s going to stop them if this is the kind of courage they have?”
Since then, the cameras have picked up most of the vandalism, including Sunday’s attack. In the video recorded Sunday, an unknown woman and two men are seen jogging across Oregon Ave. toward the business at 1:36 a.m. The young woman is seen ripping the flag down and the group runs out of frame.
Most of the vandals, Brady said, seem to be drunk people snatching the flag as they walk by. However, Sunday’s attack appeared more calculated.
“They’re drunk and they're making bad decisions and grab the flag,” she said. “This one felt different because it was planned. It had an element of creepiness.”
Bend Police Department Sgt. Jake Michaud told KOIN 6 News that, if caught, the suspects could face misdemeanor criminal mischief and theft charges.
“We're actively working to track down leads and ID suspects,” Michaud said.
While Bend’s LGBTQ community isn’t holding any formal protests in response to the vandalism at this time, Brady said that she’s hoping to get local ally businesses to hang up pride flags in solidarity with Turtle Island Coffee.
“We have a lot of ally businesses in town,” she said.
A number of local community members have reached out to show their support for Turtle Island Coffee, the business owners said, donating flags and offering to start fundraisers. However, Brady said the best way to show support is to stop by and enjoy her coffee.
“We have a lot of customers offering to bring flags,” Brady said. “We're probably sitting on eight or more [donated] flags right now. That’s great and wonderful. But what we prefer is people just come here and enjoy the space and drink the coffee. We're good on flags for now.”