The colorful balloons that turned the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge lights into rainbow decorations during Pride month may have been vandalized.
This morning Brian McGunagle — founder of Westport Pride — noticed that most of the lights on the south side were missing balloons. Several lights were damaged too.
Lights on the north side of the bridge were intact.
He contacted Westport Police, who are investigating.
Colored balloons were removed from these, and a number of other, lights on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge.
McGunagle says, “Hate has no home in Westport, and Westport Pride will continue to pursue its mission of radical welcome in our community despite any acts of vandalism.”
The Westport Downtown Association promised to replace the balloons today — and every time going forward, if necessary.
The potential bias crime comes less than a week after Westport Pride held its first rally on Jesup Green, just around the corner from the bridge.
Pride lights earlier this week, on the north side of the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge.