Sometimes I just shake my head but then I realize that so many people still have a long way to go in understanding racial oppression.
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Lynching re-enactment at Halloween party wins 1st prize
Wed, 2010-11-03 14:02
#1
Lynching re-enactment at Halloween party wins 1st prize
Wed, 2010-11-03 14:15
#2
remind
There should be a letter sent to the Ontario Canadian Command centre for the Legion lodging a formal complaint.
Here is the web site with a contact us link
Wed, 2010-11-03 14:41
#3
Snert
Ask them to what degree poppy sales fund this particular branch, and whether you and your friends and family buying a poppy would benefit this branch.
Wed, 2010-11-03 14:48
#4
remind
...already know the answer to that, and no it would not.
Wed, 2010-11-03 14:59
#5
Maysie
Racism is entertainment at Halloween, and other times of the year. Yup.
Wed, 2010-11-03 15:00
#6
Snert
Fair enough. Though you don't actually have to tell them you live elsewhere. I'm thinking that perhaps the legion takes poppy sales seriously (perhaps more seriously than they've taken this incident, so far).
Wed, 2010-11-03 15:07
#7
remind
The Legion does take poppy sales seriously, and I would have to lie and use a different name if I said I lived in the service district. People should contact the Command Centres or Branch for their area and lodge a complaint. There is a huge PR push starting right away and they would be real sensitive to any negative press.
There is a Branch finder link at the link to the Ontario Command above.
Wed, 2010-11-03 15:16
#8
KKK costume 'poor judgment' but not a crime: police
Police do not intend to lay charges after two men in Campbellford, Ont. dressed up for a Halloween party as a member of the Ku Klux Klan and his black prisoner.One of the men wore white robes and a cone-shaped headpiece, with a Confederate flag draped across his shoulders.
He was leading another man -- who had full blackface makeup and was wearing a red and blue plaid shirt -- around by a rope.
This (partial) lynching re-enactment is just stomach-turning. There was one African-Canadian fellow, a local restauranteur, who dropped by the Legion Hall for a couple of drinks about 5 minutes before the "awards" part of the Halloween party. He walked in in disgust.
Mark Andrade, who owns a restaurant in Campbellford, said he was disgusted by the costume and upset that the Legion allowed it -- and even awarded a prize to the men.Andrade, who is black, told the Canadian Press he has "never felt as alone" as he did at the party, and left immediately after he saw the costume.
Wed, 2010-11-03 17:30
#9
it's bad enough someone would use that as a costume idea. It's even worse that it was endorsed by the legion and given a first place prize for "best costume" the legion and it's members should be ashamed of themselves.
however this is by no means isolated. This halloween i saw many extremely racist costumes. My band played a show on halloween and in the audience of about 150-200 people (and it was a punk show no less, a crowd steeped on rock against racism) there were 2 nazi theme costumes (zombies...i think it was from a video game or something so not exactly just dressing up as a nazi but still i wouldn't wear it.) a guy dressed as a rasta complete with blackface, a "pimp" costume, a couple of sexist costumes, etc...
the point is, racism is not funny ever. reminds me of the overtly sexist/racist ads that masquerade as poking fun at sexist/racist cliches
Wed, 2010-11-03 18:58
#10
Refuge
If anyone wants to google it in the Toronto Sun one of the men mentioned his best friend is black. He should be investigated for that statement too.
Thu, 2010-11-04 10:02
#11
Apparently one of the two "re-enactors" was once the Toronto cop of the year. I shudder to think what he may have done to earn that award.
Thu, 2010-11-04 10:45
#12
Snert
it's bad enough someone would use that as a costume idea. It's even worse that it was endorsed by the legion and given a first place prize for "best costume" the legion and it's members should be ashamed of themselves.
No kidding. There've been several newspaper stories about how contrite and regretful the two individuals in costume are.
But where are the Legion members who voted for these guys? More to the point, why are we not hearing about their regretful resignations??
Thu, 2010-11-04 11:12
#13
Catchfire
The Legion has temporarily closed its doors under the orders of provincial commanders.“It’s very unfortunate that the poor decisions of two individuals have put Campbellford under the microscope of the nation,” said Hector Macmillan, mayor of the municipality of Trent Hills, which includes Campbellford, as he stood outside the locked-up Legion.
“They should have never been allowed in the building, and they certainly should never have won a prize.”
Mark Andrade, who helped bring the incident to the media’s attention, agrees. “It’s not reflective of what life is like in Campbellford, otherwise I wouldn’t be living here,” said Andrade, who is black.
“I’d like the town to get back to normal. That’d be nice. But I know that won’t happen right away,” he said.
Thu, 2010-11-04 13:13
#14
remind
Some of the Star comments on this story from those supporting these 2 actions were beyond belief...however so too were some of those comments from people regarding the Royal Canadian Legion.