Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for November 7, 2008 FROM THE HEART(LAND)

Well...

Yesterday, I posted "Speaking from the Heart(land)", recounting the massive rejection by voters in the tri-state area of the first African American candidate for President of the United States.

Today...how about a parade?

Child in Klan Costume Causes Controversy

By: CJ Cassidy

CAMPBELL, Mo. - Halloween's long gone, but the emotions one costume stirred up among folks in Campbell still linger.

Volunteer firefighters organized a Halloween parade which ran all the way down Campbell's Grand Avenue last Friday night.

In that parade, a small child was dressed like a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

Folks who attended the parade say the child didn't show up alone; an adult and a teenager also dressed Klan style came with the child.

The teen's grandmother, Gene Frazier, says it was never meant to offend anyone.

"We have all kinds of black friends, spanish friends. Her father's in prison, he was making calls telling people to vote for Obama," Frazier said.

Still, parade organizers say they were shocked to see the ghostly looking clan make an appearance.

"A lot of people say it's a free country. That's true it is. But there needs to be a guideline...I think it's foolish. I hate that it gave us a black eye," said Allen Edwards.

The parade wound its way down Grand Avenue in front of the police department and city hall.

Organizers say they couldn't figure out how to tell the trio to leave, and police say they couldn't arrest them because they weren't breaking any laws.

"It was a Halloween parade. We had people dressed up as witches, devils, anything you can imagine you know," Chief Weldon Wallace said.

All the same, Campbell Mayor Raymond Gunter says he's outraged, and apologizes to anyone offended by the costumes.

In a statement, he says there have been many complaints and the city council will be looking at parade policies and implement guidelines for entries and participation.

As for Gene Frazier, she still thinks it's just a costume.

"I can see some of the blacks may take offendant to it. It offends any race. It was not put out to hurt anyone. It was just kids trying to join in the parade have fun like everyone else."