Queens homeowners, neighbors speak out after Pride flag torn down: "They can't keep doing this"
NEW YORK - The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating after a Pride flag was torn down outside a home in Queens.
The incident was caught on camera shortly before 7:30 p.m. Tuesday near 190th Street and 75th Avenue in Fresh Meadows. Surveillance video shows two suspects rip down the flag and run off with it.
This is a time when the LGBTQ+ community is supposed to be celebrated, but many say it's also a time when they're feeling under attack.
"Walked up to check the mail and noticed that the flag was gone," Rich Marzullo said.
Marzullo says a new Pride flag in front of his Queens home was vandalized, then ripped off the flagpole.
"The pole was bent, like, well over 90 degrees ... Oh, I was angry. I was so angry," Marzullo said.
The homeowners said they were upset but not surprised, as the flag has been vandalized before. Last September, the flag he had up was destroyed, and in 2021, his flag was also smashed on the ground.
"It hurts to know that you can be a target in a neighborhood where you're friendly with your neighbors, where things like this typically don't happen," Rich Marzullo told CBS2's Zinnia Maldonado. "These are people who live in the neighborhood that are doing this. Somebody knows who they are, and they need to know that they can't keep doing this."
- Related Story: More Pride flags destroyed near Stonewall Inn
Neighbors said hate is not welcome in their community and it sends the wrong message.
"It's sad, that's all I have to say. These are wonderful people and there's no reason why they have to be hurt that way," neighbor Rita Merlis said. "There's enough hate all around us, outside. But here, coming here to our little community -- no, no, no, I'm sorry, doesn't belong."
"We're sad, I hate that that happened to him, the second year," said Lisa Moise, who works next door. "My daughter is with the LGBTQ community too and it saddens my heart."
Police said the suspects, who are likely in their late teens, also damaged a fixture on the house.
Meanwhile, a new Pride flag is back up outside the home.
Watch Zinnia Maldonado's report
Sadly, it's not the only reported hate crime during Pride Month that's being investigated in New York City.
Saturday, a rainbow flag display decorating the Stonewall National Monument in Christopher Park was vandalized, and it happened again Thursday.
"We're living through a culture of hate. Not only against LGBTQ people, but people of color, immigrants, Latino, reproductive justice," LGBT Network President David Kilmnick said.
According to the NYPD, reported hate crimes are down in the five boroughs. As of June 11, there were 29, compared to 33 the same time last year.
But the LGBT Network says they received even more complaints -- 36 so far this year, compared to 23 the same time last year.
"Hate crime numbers are always misleading, especially with the LGBTQ community because not everyone's out ... And people sometimes may feel the police are not safe to report to," Kilmnick said.
Back in Fresh Meadows, Marzullo and his partner say people can take their flag but will never take away their pride.
"We're going to keep on putting it back up because that's who we are as people. This represents us," Marzullo said.
Anyone with information about them is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
