Wednesday, April 24, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
North Country Now photo by Sean McNamara OGDENSBURG -- First Presbyterian Church dedicated its new rainbow bench Sunday morning. Rev. Laurena Wickham led the ceremony dedicating the bench that …
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North Country Now photo by Sean McNamara
OGDENSBURG -- First Presbyterian Church dedicated its new rainbow bench Sunday morning.
Rev. Laurena Wickham led the ceremony dedicating the bench that replaced one that was burned in what police initially described as a hate crime.
On Sept. 7, Francis Solis, 47, set fire to the bench, police said. The bench is meant as a symbol of acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.
Solis was charged with fifth-degree arson, a misdemeanor, and third-degree criminal mischief as a hate crime, a felony.
He turned himself in after seeing surveillance footage released to the media that showed him near the scene around the time of the fire.
The hate crime charge was later dropped after a prosecutor didn’t show for a preliminary hearing.
Donald Kerr constructed the new bench and donated it to the church.
