Beth Rea, manager of O’Reilly’s Pub in Clintonville, Ohio, said two men ripped down their Pride flag just hours after hanging it for Pride Month and then returned to break a window with a rock.
“We are definitely a regulars bar,” Rea explained. “We are very close with our customers. We’re very accepting of everybody in here.”
According to Rea, the incident occurred at approximately 10:45 p.m., when the men tore down the flag and were confronted by some patrons. After leaving, they returned within about five minutes and threw a rock through the window.
“Luckily, nobody was sitting there,” Rea said, noting that while the situation was concerning for safety reasons, no one was injured. “We shut down the bar for the night after the incident and boarded up the window.”
Rea emphasized the bar would not be intimidated into removing its Pride decorations. “Absolutely not going to stop us from putting up our decorations,” she said.
The incident took place at a bar that also displayed other Pride Month decorations, including smaller flags and a sign reading “Pride Month.”
Columbus police are investigating the matter and are seeking information about the two men who allegedly vandalized the property.
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