Not the usual suspect: Student charged with burning pride flag explains motive in court

Brett T. | 7:36 PM on April 27, 2016

This February, students at the University of British Columbia raised the familiar rainbow-colored pride flag over campus as part of the school’s week-long “celebration of gender and sexual diversity.” Just days later, the flag was burned in what many called a hate crime.

UBC calling it an act of hate. Pride flag was taken down & burned sometime over the long weekend. RCMP investigating pic.twitter.com/FFtthvbP3y

— Greg Harper (@GS_Harper) February 11, 2016

Completely horrified by the burning of the Pride flag at UBC. I am feeling very sad and very, very angry about this 🙁

— tina 夏瑜 ly (@charsieu) February 10, 2016

In case it was ever unclear that our work isn't done: "UBC students feel unsafe after Pride flag burned on campus" https://t.co/or0K3MrFlX

— Kyle Kirkup (@kylekirkup) February 10, 2016

#Pride is a fundamental freedom in #Canada. The flag burning confirms that #UBC #outweek events needs to go on as scheduled. Have courage?

— (((LAGO 4 Ever))) (@reason911) February 10, 2016

https://twitter.com/MrMcFteaches/status/697598482241040386

Police soon announced they had identified a suspect, and on Tuesday, UBC student Brooklyn Marie Fink, 31, appeared in court for the first time. CBC News offered this update on the suspect:

Brooklyn Marie Fink, 31, who describes herself as transsexual, talked about the flag burning after her first court appearance in Richmond on Tuesday.

“As a media artist, I intended in burning the flag only to illustrate my displeasure at the university’s failure to come to an agreement on the fact of the flag’s offensiveness.”

Fink said the rising awareness about transgender people has made life more difficult for her, something she finds “really emotional, really stressful” to talk about.

“Ten, 12 years ago I was just a tall woman and nobody thought anything of it,” she said.

“But because these gender nonconformers are being so loud and proud … now everybody looks and they can see oh, that tall woman with a deep voice, maybe she’s a dude.”

https://twitter.com/foucboi/status/725382371130892290

Fink is due back in court on May 17 where she faces a charge of mischief.

They aren't even safe from each other. We'll just sit back and watch SJWs off themselves. https://t.co/wCJlUXzV79

— André (@broncoraiderh8r) April 27, 2016

UBC student charged w/burning pride flag told us: "as the queens loyal subject I did my duty and protected the flag" pic.twitter.com/1EBLHlBxPy

— Shannon Paterson (@ctv_shannon) April 26, 2016

Brooklyn Fink disagrees with what the flag stood for. Wants T in LGBTQ to stand for transvestite not transgendered. UBC has suspended her.

— Shannon Paterson (@ctv_shannon) April 26, 2016