City supports LGBT newspaper after explosion destroys box

SALEM, Mass. (AP) – Rainbow flags are being flown in one New England city to support an LGBT publication after one of its newspaper boxes was destroyed in a possible hate crime.

City and community leaders unveiled a new box for The Rainbow Times Aug. 28 after the explosion in Salem, Massachusetts.

The Rainbow Times calls itself New England’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender newspaper.

Investigators say surveillance footage shows about seven people approach the box Aug. 23 and place explosives inside it. The State Fire Marshal is offering a $5,000 reward for information that helps solve the crime.

Police are investigating it as a hate crime.

The newspaper’s publisher said in a statement that other boxes were recently vandalized but that The Rainbow Times won’t be silenced by ignorance or hatred.

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