What to Know
- Police say they're investigating a possible anti-gay bias crime after pride flags were set on fire at the entrance of a gay bar in Harlem
- A police spokesman says the rainbow flags were burned just after midnight Friday at the Alibi Lounge
- On its Instagram, the business bills itself as the only black-owned gay lounge in New York City, serving food and drinks
Rainbow flags were set on fire at the entrance of a gay bar in Harlem on the eve of Pride Month, police said.
The flags were burned just after midnight Friday at the Alibi Lounge a day before the start of the city's Pride Month celebrations, a police spokesman said.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he was directing the State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to assist the NYPD in the investigation.
U.S. & World
"There is no place for hate in New York and those responsible for this repugnant behavior must be held accountable," Cuomo said in a statement.
On its Instagram, the business bills itself as the only black-owned gay lounge in Harlem, serving food and drinks.
Photos of the scorched, multicolored flags were posted online.
No one was injured and rain extinguished the flames.
