Activists have painted over the rainbow crossing on Gisborne’s main street and plan to protest outside a drag-queen event at a local library in the coming hours.
The controversial Destiny Church has claimed responsibility for the act and said it was protesting against the “Living Library” event at the HB Williams Memorial Library.
The group blocked Gladstone Road while activists painted and held signs urging people to “protect our youth” and put a stop to the event.
The group plans on protesting outside the library at midday while the event is taking place.
The Gisborne Destiny Church branch had said if Mayor Rehette Stoltz did not cancel the reading by 5pm yesterday, the rainbow crossing would be painted over.
The group live-streamed the vandalism on Facebook. Leighton Packer, who ran for the East Coast electorate last year, spoke to the camera while people took rollers of white paint to the rainbow.
“We are making a statement,” Packer said.
“Sometimes we have to do these things for people to listen.”
About 10 people took part in the painting, keeping the area cordoned off with cones while they completed their protest. The group members embraced each other once they were done and warned pedestrians to “keep off the wet paint”.
Destiny Church Leader Brian Tamaki said the vandalism was a protest against the lack of communication from the council regarding fears about the library event.
They aimed to “protect the innocence of children” and to force the mayor to cancel the event by destroying a symbol that represented the group holding it.
“Well, I think it’s quite obvious that we’ve been very clear and why we’re doing this, we don’t agree that the drag queens that are allowed access to public libraries to be able to teach,” Tamaki said.
He questioned the legality of a “minority group” painting their logo in public places and claimed the crossing was an issue of “public safety”.
Stoltz and the police have been approached for comment.
Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. She has worked for the Herald since 2022.
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