Police in State College, Pennsylvania have arrested 27-year-old Markos Bejiga for allegedly lighting a church’s Pride flag on fire and trying to burn others while shouting anti-LGBTQ+ slurs at passers-by. He now faces five criminal charges, but the church whose flag he allegedly vandalized offered a surprising response.
On June 6, Bejiga allegedly ignited a Progress Pride flag hanging over the entrance of the Faith United Church of Christ, which said, “A just world for all.” Photos of the flag show its lower left-hand side partially burned. He also reportedly damaged Pride-themed decorations in front of Chumley’s gay bar and the Café West 210 restaurant, according to WJAC.
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Bejiga also allegedly climbed a light pole to try to ignite another rainbow flag, a police affidavit says. The affidavit added that police recieved multiple calls accusing Bejiga of shouting homophobic slurs at bystanders.
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The suspect now faces one felony count of causing or risking catastrophe, one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct, and three summary counts of criminal mischief.
In a public Facebook post, the church’s Rev. Jes Kast, said that the house of worship had displayed the flag just three days before the vandalism. Kast urged her social media followers not to repay the vandalism with further violence.
“The windows in our sanctuary say ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ and that is who we have been and who we resolutely will be,” Kast wrote. “Love is the way of God…. To all, please do not let these inflamed times promote violence. We all have a choice in how we respond and I beg us all to keep choosing the courage to love and the courage of peace. I beg us all, love your neighbor.”
“To the arsonist who did this,” Kast added, “I pray for you. I pray for any who think this type of vandalism is morally ok. It isn’t. I pray that whatever anger or distress you are experiencing that you receive loving support and I do pray you may understand that this action is wrong and we will not accept this as a community. Mercy and forgiveness await you.”
Fermin Almeida, board member of State College’s Centre LGBT+” organization, told the aforementioned news station, “We’re not fearful. We’re not going to go back. If anything, we’re going to come out and publicly say that this is not okay, it’s not acceptable, and that we have the right avenues to ensure that we’re protected.”
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