British Columbia

Mischief charge laid in UBC Pride flag burning

Brooklyn Marie Fink has been charged with mischief in relation to the burning of a rainbow Pride flag at the University of B.C. campus last February.

Flag raised on campus to celebrate OUTweek was discovered burned in February, prompting security concerns

A rainbow Pride flag similar to this one was burned at the University of B.C. campus last February. (Mktp/Flickr)

A mischief charge has been laid in the burning of the University of B.C. Pride flag last February, an event that raised security concerns on campus and prompted the cancellation of a scheduled parade.

Court documents show Brooklyn Marie Fink is charged with mischief under $5000, and scheduled to appear in a Richmond court tomorrow.

The flag had been raised as part of the UBC Pride Collective's OUTweek activities, and was discovered burned Feb. 9, after the Family Day long weekend

At the time, the burning of a symbol of LGBT pride was viewed as a possible hate crime on campus, prompting extra security precautions and the cancellation of a parade in support of transgender people. The City of Vancouver raised its rainbow flag in solidarity, with the mayor's office tweeting that "hate has no place in our community."

Once a suspect was identified later that week, UBC officials said they believed the flag burning was an isolated incident.