Severed pig's head on rainbow crosswalk at elementary school prompts RCMP investigation
Parkland RCMP is investigating a possible hate crime after a severed pig's head was found on the rainbow crosswalk of an elementary school.
The head was reported to police by a parent on Sunday and police believe it was left on Graminia School grounds sometime over the weekend.
It is now being investigated as a hate-motivated crime.
"An unsophisticated person might think this was a prank. An objective viewer would see it as highly intolerant and provocative," Staff Sergeant Ian Gillan of Parkland RCMP said in a news release.
Police believe the head came from a domesticated pig and that it was placed in the middle of the crosswalk intentionally to disturb students, staff, and parents.
"Any deliberate attacks on this work or directly toward students or staff in the LGBTQ2S+ community are taken very seriously," read a statement from Graminia School.
The elementary school has a gay-straight alliance, and students from the social justice club painted the rainbow crosswalk in 2020.
"It's not a common occurrence, which is why it has raised red flags with us. I wouldn't say that this is a frequent narrative in our community, " Cst. Sarah Williams told CBC.
Graminia School has posted on its website that is has implemented support for anyone who feels targeted or traumatized by the attack.
"These actions are never okay, especially when you are dealing with the ripple effects this may have on staff and students," said Lorraine Stewart, board chair of the Parkland School District in a news release.
Melissa Balfour's 11-year-old daughter attends Graminia School, and she said she was not aware of the incident until Wednesday but condemns its nature.
"These are just kids. We're trying to teach our kids to love everybody equally. It doesn't matter who they love.
"I hope that this isn't a hate crime or anything, being that it's on our crosswalk rainbow," Balfour told CBC.
Balfour says she hopes the person responsible is brought to justice and that students of the school are not afraid to watch out for one another.
RCMP are asking the public for any information related to missing or mutilated pigs, and for butchers and meat packers who recently sold, or had a pig's head stolen to contact Parkland RCMP.
Parkland RCMP is also encouraging people to report any and all hate-motivated crimes no matter how minor they may seem.
