Police order rainbow Pride crossing to be painted over just one day after it was installed
The rainbow Pride crossing in Turku, Finland, lasted just one day. (Twitter/ SusannaSankala)
Police in the city of Turku, Finland, have ordered a rainbow Pride crossing to be removed, just one day after it was painted.
According to YLE, On Tuesday (8 June), a rainbow road crossing was unveiled, in a project led by Turku City Theatre to mark Pride Month.
At the time, the city of Turku’s communications director Saara Malila said in a statement: “Flying the rainbow flag on certain days acts as an instantaneous communication channel.
“The rainbow colours painted on the street reminds us that the city is equal and open to everyone every day.”
Turku Pride Street, few days 6/2021 #turku #Pride2021 pic.twitter.com/zlTfapmUiz
— Susanna Sankala (@SusannaSankala) June 9, 2021
But just one day later, the Finland’s National Police Board decided that the crossing was, in fact, illegal and ordered it to be removed.
Police said the rainbow Pride crossing violated the country’s Road Traffic Act, insisting that the colours would make the crossing unsafe.
The city, however, had considered the act and had deemed the crossing perfectly safe, as the law requires either white lines, a road sign, or both to mark a crossing.
Road signs are often used in Finland to mark crossings because of the risk of snow cover.
Miten tunnistaa suojatie jos katumerkintää ei ole näkyvissä esim lumipeitteen takia. #turku #pride pic.twitter.com/9fwuPg2e86— Paavo Alander 313 (@AlanderPaavo) June 10, 2021
But the city said in a statement: “The city will follow the Police Board’s position on the matter and remove the paint as soon as possible and restore the white lines marking the protected crossing.
“A work order for its removal and repainting has already been issued.”
Almost immediately, workers were spotted with pressure washers, removing the rainbow colours.
Wash the gay away. @cityofturku
Kuva: T. Loikas pic.twitter.com/iwiu27SOMh— Panda Eriksson / 379 Turku FP (sit./vihreä lista) (@panda_eriksson) June 9, 2021
In response, the local LGBT+ community and their allies have started decorating the pavements near the crossing with their own rainbow artwork.
Päivän (yhteis-)työn saldo: @turunvihreat @sfprkp ja @turunvas koppien edessä nyt sateenkaaret! Kiitos kanssaehdokkaat Sonja Rosenqvist (RKP) ja Paco Diap (vas) ?? Kuvassa myös ihana Greta. pic.twitter.com/nQbgciR8Lm— Panda Eriksson / 379 Turku FP (sit./vihreä lista) (@panda_eriksson) June 10, 2021
Piirsin myös @turunvihreat kopin eteen sateenkaaren, jonka yhteydessä @turunkokoomus kampanjatiimiläinen tuli haukkumaan mut ?? Lapset täällä leikkii ja tykkää, asiasta puhutaan. Job well done, sanon mä. #feministinenturku pic.twitter.com/U6Ff4dW7k7
— Panda Eriksson / 379 Turku FP (sit./vihreä lista) (@panda_eriksson) June 10, 2021
Oletko suoraselkäisen tasa-arvo- ja yhdenvertaisuustyön puolella? Keskustelun herättäminen ei riitä, vaan tarvitsemme tekoja. Osallistu lauantaina 12.6 ja maalaa asfaltti sateenkaaren väreiksi, näytä kenen puolella olet! ?? #PinkkipesuaVastaan #SateenkaariSuojatie #Turku pic.twitter.com/qEocSkVVuN— eeli kytömäki ? #17 #freepalestine (@paralleeli) June 10, 2021
One local has even organised a group painting session, writing on Twitter: “Are you on the side of equality? It is not enough to provoke a debate, we need action.
“Participate on Saturday 12 June and paint the asphalt in rainbow colours, show whose side you are on.”
