A pro-LGBTQ "Southie Pride" lawn sign outside Micro Plant Studio in South Boston was smashed over Boston Pride weekend, leaving the small business with what the owner says is more than $500 in damage. Security video from the storefront shows multiple people knocking the sign to the ground, an attack the owner described as heartbreaking.
Surveillance footage shows multiple incidents
Security footage reviewed by the shop captures at least two separate incidents. In one clip, a man strolls past, doubles back, then kicks the sign. In another, someone appears to pull the sign out of its frame and let it drop while a friend records the scene. Boston police are investigating the vandalism, and the owner puts the damage at more than $500, according to WCVB.
Owner response
Owner Julio Cesar Roman told reporters the vandalism "truly broke [his] heart" and urged neighbors to answer the incident with kindness, not retaliation. Roman said he wants Micro Plant Studio to remain a visible show of support during Pride and made clear he has no plans to back away from that stance, as reported by WCVB.
Owner and shop background
According to the South Boston Chamber of Commerce, Julio Cesar Roman opened Micro Plant Studio in 2018 and runs it as a plant-and-workshop storefront in South Boston, known for its 3D-printed pots and neighborhood programming. The shop has grown into a local fixture, taking part in community events and small-business grant programs and becoming a regular presence in the area.
Signs targeted across the city
This incident comes amid other recent attacks on pro-LGBTQ messaging across Boston. In April, Old South Church reported that a "God loves trans people" sign was stolen three times in just a few weeks, a pattern that Boston.com reported had triggered renewed calls for solidarity. Those earlier thefts highlighted a tense atmosphere around Pride-related displays in some neighborhoods.
Police and next steps
Boston police are investigating the vandalism and have asked anyone with information to contact detectives. Roman said he hopes the episode pushes neighbors toward small acts of kindness that reinforce the shop's message of inclusion.
