Man arrested after vandalism of rainbow crosswalk captured on video

Police in Surrey, B.C., are investigating after video of people vandalizing a rainbow crosswalk was posted on social media over the weekend by the leader of a r

Police in Surrey, B.C., say one man has been arrested after a video was posted to social media showing people vandalizing a rainbow crosswalk in the city.

Officers responded to a protest in Holland Park on May 30 where a rainbow-coloured crosswalk had been vandalized with black spray paint.

Investigators say three men were quickly identified as suspects.

The Surrey Police Service’s major crimes section and the department’s hate crimes co-ordinator assisted in the investigation, the department said in an update on the case Monday.

“The investigation has resulted in one man being arrested and released on an undertaking with numerous conditions,” the department said in a news release. “That person has not yet been formally charged with a Criminal Code offence.”

Police said the investigation is ongoing and a charge assessment report will likely be sent to prosecutors “in the coming days.”

B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma condemned the vandalism as “very disturbing,” telling reporters at an unrelated news conference following the incident that “we unreservedly condemn that type of behaviour.”

Amrit Birring, who is the leader of the Freedom Party of British Columbia, posted video showing him and another man spray painting the crosswalk, while a third man waved a placard.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Birring said the vandalism was “sending a message” as a form of “activism.”

Birring has unsuccessfully stood as a candidate in federal and provincial elections and for Surrey’s mayoralty.

He received 371 votes when he stood in the 2024 provincial election in Surrey-Newton.

Independent Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Elenore Sturko said in a post on social media that she was disgusted by the incident.

“Vandalism is not protected free speech,” she wrote on X. “As Pride month begins, I stand in solidarity with the community and condemn hate in all its forms.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Surrey Police Service’s non-emergency line at 604-599-0502 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

With files from The Canadian Press