A woman set fire to the facade of a Manhattan restaurant on Monday, in what police are investigating as a possible anti-LGBTQ hate crime. The Little Prince, located in the Soho neighborhood of Manhattan, had its rainbow pride flag set ablaze by a woman exiting a white SUV. The NYPD has released surveillance footage of the incident and is asking the public for help in identifying the suspected arsonist.
The restaurant’s owner declined to comment, but New York City Council Member Erik Bottcher, who represents the area and is gay, raised a new five-times-larger pride flag to show solidarity. Several violent attacks against LGBTQ establishments, figures, or symbols have occurred in New York City within the past year. In April, a Brooklyn bar for LGBTQ New Yorkers closed after an arson attack, while a Hell’s Kitchen gay bar had bricks thrown at its window in November. In December, protesters vandalized Bottcher’s office and apartment building with homophobic graffiti.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James took to social media to condemn the recent violence, emphasizing that “New York will not allow blatant acts of hate against our communities.” The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is investigating the incident, and anyone with information about the arsonist should contact the police immediately. Despite the attack, the restaurant remains open, with its owner stating that “inside is smoky but we will be fine.”
As New York City continues to face acts of violence against its LGBTQ community, Bottcher is optimistic about the future. He remarked that “the person who did this, the plan has backfired and backfired badly,” and the response from the community has been one of support and resilience.
