From The Boston Globe · · 1m
Swampscott rainbow crosswalks repainted
Swampscott officials repainted rainbow crosswalks black and white after community backlash.
In brief
Swampscott officials repainted rainbow crosswalks black and white after community backlash. Swampscott town officials repainted rainbow crosswalks black and white without warning, sparking resident outrage and a GoFundMe to restore LGBTQ-inclusive markings. Originally reported by The Boston Globe.
Rainbow crosswalks repainted
Three of Swampscott’s 10 rainbow crosswalks were painted over with black and white last week.
Residents demand answers
Residents say officials covered rainbow crosswalks without warning, which symbolize LGBTQ community support.
Town administrator explains
Town Administrator Nick Connors said contractors repainted crosswalks Thursday night as part of regular roadway maintenance.
Private donation repainted
Rainbow crosswalks were painted through a private donation outside the town’s regular maintenance schedule.
Residents respond
Longtime resident Pam Shea said the crosswalks were visible signs of inclusion and their removal sends the wrong message.
“Those crosswalks were visible signs of inclusion and they made a difference”
GoFundMe launched
Resident Joe Strothman launched a GoFundMe to repaint rainbow crosswalks after officials repainted them black and white.
Next steps
Swampscott officials will review policies to ensure private donations for crosswalks are handled consistently.
The big picture
Swampscott town officials repainted rainbow crosswalks black and white without warning, sparking resident outrage and a GoFundMe to restore LGBTQ-inclusive markings.
