The mayor of Summerland is hoping to turn two negative incidents, including a man with a Confederate bandana during a racial harmony parade, into a pair of positives.
Earlier this week, a Summerland family had their home vandalized with red spray paint, along with two windows being smashed. The graffiti included a swastika, with police describing the incident as a hate crime while announcing they were launching an investigation.
Later in the week, a community support parade was planned for the Indo-Canadian family on Thursday. However, that event, which featured more than 140 vehicles, was marred when a man in a truck showed up with a Confederate bandana that was first thought to be a flag.
Global News was told that the bandana was quickly pulled inside the truck by another person.
Summerland Mayor Toni Boot told Global News on Saturday morning that police tracked the man down and questioned him.
Global News has reached out to the RCMP for more information.
Boot said she was part of the parade, which began with police and the fire department, and included people flying Canadian flags and showing messages of support, but noted she didn’t see the Confederate bandana.
The mayor, who is Black, said police tracked down the suspect and talked to him on Friday night. She also said police notified her that the suspect wanted to talk to her and apologize.
The apology, said Boot, took place just after 10 p.m. in the middle of a downtown street, near where the man was staying, with two police cars blocking part of the road.
Boot said the man was Caucasian and in his mid-20s. She also alleged he was from Alberta, near Edson.
The mayor also said the man bought the bandana from a store in Summerland.
“He was humble and apologetic,” said Boot, noting the man’s girlfriend was also there, as were two police officers.
“It was a very public conversation; anybody that wanted to hear it just had to open their windows … there were people out on their balconies.”
Boot said her message was that “Summerland is pushing back against (racism).”
She also said, “I kind of wish he lived here so he could experience full-on what this town is saying about racism.”
The mayor said the man is welcome back, and “that we want you to come back and spend your money here, but don’t even think that it’s OK to bring a Confederate flag, buy a Confederate flag or wave a Confederate flag in Summerland ever again. And if that’s your intention while you’re out here, don’t even bother coming.”
Boot gave the young man kudos for coming forward and apologizing, stating while these incidents are negative, they can turn into a positive.
“His actions, I would not describe as courageous in any way,” said Boot. “But for this young man to come forward and say, ‘I want to apologize for the hurt I caused in Summerland,’ … kudos to this young man.”
She hopes the young man “will learn a little more about the impact that you’ve had in this community and the impact that you can have in a positive way in your own community.
“I don’t know if there will be any change, but he created yet another opportunity for Summerland to address this head-on.”
“I’m glad he came forward,” said Kelowna Coun. Mohini Singh, who also attended the parade and saw the Confederate bandana being used as a flag.
“I hope he’s learned a lesson that flying the Confederate flag is not funny, especially when it’s during a party where there’s an outpouring of love and support for the Lekhi family.”
Boot said Friday’s apology was an unexpected conversation during what’s been a stressful year, “but I’m hoping this is the start of a very important conversation that we need to have in Summerland, and certainly in other areas.”
Along with the house being vandalized and the Confederate flag incident, the town’s bandshell was also tagged with hateful graffiti. Police believe the two graffiti incidents are linked.
Boot said town council will hold an open discussion about these incidents during Monday’s council meeting.
In a second interview with Global News on Saturday afternoon, the mayor said she went to the store and, following a conversation with the owner, was given the rest of the flags for free, though the flags turned out to be bandanas.
Boot noted the store owner allowed a local reporter to be part of the conversation.
After the conversation, the mayor said she took the remaining bandanas and cut them up, then threw the scraps into the garbage.
Singh said, “there’s lessons to be learned here. There’s no room for flying a Confederate flag in Canada. It has no history here and it represents oppression and bigotry.
“It’s shameful and horrible, and hopefully he’s learned a lesson. There’s no room for that flag in Canada and there’s no room for bigotry.”
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