‘Unacceptable in our city’: 19-year-old arrested in Pink Triangle vandalism

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — A 19-year-old man is accused of defacing the Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks in San Francisco.

The San Francisco Police Department said its officers responded to Christmas Tree Point Road for a report of vandalism at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. At the scene, officers said they found the suspect actively spray painting the memorial art installation.

SFPD said the suspect, identified as Lester Bamacajeronimo, was arrested after a brief chase, and that evidence of vandalism tools was located.

Patrick Carney, the founder of Pink Triangle, said he found out about the incident when police called him.

“It was a total surprise and out of the blue,” said Carney. “But the police got a call from somebody who witnessed them spray painting it. So they came out and caught the guy, which is great. But you can see the damage that was done. There are some zigzagging lines that go back and forth across the Pink Triangle and they’re about 14 inches wide. So, it damaged 26 of the tarps. So we’ll have to replace those tarps which is a big chore because we would have to dismantle a whole area in order to replace them. So that’s disappointing. So what I think do is just get some paint that matches the original color and paint over the black paint. However, that’s a temporary fix and we’ll still have to throw those tarps away.”

Carney also says that anti-transgender stickers been popping up near the installation. Carney says he and several community members have been scratching them out or covering them up with tape.

California State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) released a statement in response to the incident:

Today’s vandalism of the Pink Triangle is yet another horrific attack on the LGBTQ community — at a time when our community is under intense assault on a daily basis. The Pink Triangle is a symbol of our community’s resilience in the face of hatred and violence. The Nazis tried to exterminate us, and we survived. Today, we face another severe threat — a President and his movement trying to erase us entirely and force us back into the closet. We’re not going anywhere, and no amount of vandalism or violence will change that. I’m so grateful for the many volunteers who make the Pink Triangle each year. Nothing will stop this community’s spirit, and I’m confident the Pink Triangle will be repaired and back in order quickly.

“This vandalism is unacceptable in our city and the San Francisco Police Department condemns this act,” said SFPD in a social media post. “San Francisco’s Pink Triangle is a powerful symbol of our city’s commitment to supporting LGBT rights and commemorates to victims of the past. We stand united with our LGBT community this month and every month as we continue the fight for equality.”

Charges are pending in the case.