Locals of a town in Canada have gone viral after painting 16 rainbow crosswalks despite the fact that the city council voted them down.
The protest occurred in the town of Chilliwack after the proposal to come up with rainbow crosswalks was turned down by the council.
While the authorities argued that installing crosswalks in the controversial colors would divide the people and encourage confrontations, the activists have found a loophole in the law that allowed them to install rainbow crosswalks on their own.
According to the reports, Chilliwack council doesn’t have authority over private properties, meaning that individuals may legally paint crosswalks however they wish as long as it is on their privately-owned land.
And so, 16 rainbow crosswalks in the town were born. The first ones to take action were the indigenous people who got their hands dirty as they painted a colorful crosswalk in front of a local shopping center.
Ts’elxweyeqw Tribe’s president, Dave Jimmie, spoke out about the actions of his people and defended them for demonstrating inclusiveness in their community.
“I think as Indigenous people, we have experienced marginalization, and to see collaboration between marginalized communities is positive, as well as to see Indigenous LGBTQ people supported by their own community leadership is powerful,” Kwakiutl nation member Alison Tedford added.
Another local resident who strongly defends the rainbow colors is Marty van den Bosch who painted a crosswalk at his home together with his wife.
“Each and every one of us is different, often in many ways. I do my best to treat people based on their actions, and their words, not on things like their sexual orientation, race or any other attributes they were born as,” he said.
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Replaced!