BOSTON— More than 400 transgender flags were ripped from the ground at Boston Common, stirring outrage among advocates who are now demanding a hate crime investigation.

The mini flags, placed to memorialize every known trans and gender-expansive person lost to violence since 2020, were legally installed with city permits. “This act is not simple vandalism; it is a hate crime that directly echoes the very violence and prejudice that Transgender Day of Remembrance was established to condemn,” the Queer Neighborhood Council stated.

Eyewitness reports indicate that multiple individuals were seen dismantling the memorial and discarding the flags. By Tuesday morning, not a single flag remained.

The incident coincides with Transgender Awareness Week, a time meant to highlight the dangers faced by the trans community. The Boston Police Department has been notified, yet officials have yet to comment on any ongoing investigation.