With ICE going around arresting people without due process and Trump spouting his hateful, discriminatory remarks, it’s no wonder that more and more racists and bigots are coming out of the woodwork. The peace at one house in Delaney Park, Orlando, Florida, was broken when two young men were spotted trespassing on private property. They weren’t there to steal anything, no. They were there for one purpose: to rip down an LGBT flag that had been proudly raised in front of a civilian home.
It seemed as though the very sight of that rainbow flag disturbed them so deeply that they convinced themselves it was worth climbing a fence and running into someone’s yard. Once inside, the two acted in unison, leaping together to yank the LGBT flag from its pole and throw it to the ground. They then bolted out of the yard as quickly as they had entered, completely unaware that their actions, their faces, and their little performance had already been captured by the homeowner’s Ring camera at the front door.
After scrambling over the fence, the two culprits rushed to meet a third young man waiting for them with bicycles. Together, the three mounted their bikes and sped away from the scene, perhaps feeling smug and self-satisfied over what they had just done to the LGBT flag. But their confidence would be short-lived.
The Orlando homeowner, understandably outraged, wasn’t about to let this slide. They uploaded the video footage online almost immediately, asking if anyone could help identify the three young men from Orlando. The homeowner also made it clear that they were prepared to press charges, framing the act as nothing less than a hate crime.
The internet did not disappoint. Users were quick to condemn the vandals, describing their behavior as pathetic, hateful, and cowardly. “Talk about not having a life. I hope they’re found and arrested,” one person wrote. Another pointed out the hypocrisy at play: “Guarantee if someone goes around ripping down those hideous thin blue line American flags, it would be labeled as terrorism and the cops would go on a rampage.”
Some commenters shifted their focus to the parents of the boys, questioning what kind of upbringing could possibly produce young men willing to engage in this kind of behavior. Others connected the incident to the broader climate of right-wing hate, with several bringing up Charlie Kirk, a conservative figure well known for his hostility toward the LGBT community. One user sarcastically quipped, “I’m sure these vandals are mourning the fact that Charlie Kirk won’t be there to give them further advice and coach them on how to treat their fellow man.”
Many also expressed frustration with the culture that Trump and his followers have created. As one person put it: “Trump and his cult have taken the fun out of being an American and living in the United States.”
Still, the mood wasn’t entirely grim. There was also defiance. Some people encouraged the homeowner to re-raise the rainbow flag, making it even harder to take down. “Put it back up, reinforce it, then cover it in a thin layer of Vaseline,” one commenter advised.
