SEATTLE — Someone vandalized and broke into the Seattle Men's and Women's Chorus building four times in four days. The repairs will cost at least $ 10,000, so the organization is implementing more safety measures.
Executive Director Craig Coogan said it all started early Saturday morning when someone smashed in its glass door, and just hours later, while Coogan was there ordering a replacement door, someone broke in and he scared the suspect off.
Then, on Monday, Coogan said someone sawed through the replacement door and stole computer equipment.
"Every day, seeing that we're attacked. Yeah, it's that pit in the stomach. It's really sad," Coogan said.
The latest incident happened early Tuesday morning. Surveillance footage showed someone trying to ram through the rest of the glass door.
"It's hard not to feel targeted. We know that this is a there's crime out there, there's vandalism out there," Coogan said.
The organization was founded in 1979 and is world-renowned as one of the largest LGBTQ choruses across the country and globe.
"All we do is we produce concerts that bring joy to the LGBTQ experience. It's really challenging to try and express love and joy when we're being attacked," Coogan said.
Coogan said they filed police reports and investigators don't know if they're being targeted because it's an LGBTQ organization or if it's due to crimes of opportunity.
"We are out. We are proud. It's hard not to think that that has some impact. We are also at a really tough time in Seattle and around the nation, where fentanyl and drug use are at record highs. There's just no logic to this sort of violence," Coogan said.
As work continues to put in more safety measures, the chorus' work on its latest performance is far from over.
"We exist to bring joy and love into the world. We have faced protesters in the past, we will not be afraid we'll continue to make music that makes a difference," Coogan said.
KING 5 reached out to SPD on the case and is waiting to hear back.
The Seattle Men's and Women's Chorus are accepting donations on its website to help the non-profit with repairs.