Members of the public enjoying the annual Farmers Fair parade on October 1 in Aurora, Indiana, were shocked and horrified to see a float vilifying President Barack Obama and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
AURORA, Ind. – Residents in Indiana are up in arms over a parade float Saturday that depicted Donald Trump throwing the switch on Hillary Clinton in an electric chair and President Obama as a Easter Island figure with an oversized head.
A public protest started when an Aurora mom posted a photo of the float on Facebook and condemned it as sexist and racist. Most commenters agreed with her, but others defended it.
"Who thinks this is appropriate for a fair parade where children, some of them minorities and girls, are marching and playing instruments and watching? Who thinks this is something to laugh at or be proud of?" Penny Britton said on her Facebook post. "This is disgusting. This makes me embarrassed to say I live here. This is Aurora, Indiana. Congratulations."
After some hesitation, the local Lyons Club, which organized the parade and could have prevented the float from taking part, issued an official statement on the Fair’s website, apologizing for the display having offended “some viewers.”
Update: The float's creator, Frank Linkmeyer (who claims to be a Democrat) says he “didn’t mean to offend anyone, he was just having fun.” Some fun. If there’s a silver lining in this story, it’s to be found in the reactions of many residents and visitors.
"My initial reaction was I’m just appalled," Jackie Reynolds said. "For us to be in 2016 and have our President depicted as an Easter Island statue in black face doesn’t even make any sense, but it’s as racist as can be."
While phone-banking for Hillary last night, I learned of this from a Democrat who had watched the parade. He and his wife were appalled and upset; I was, too, when I saw the reports. Get out the vote, everyone! We can’t let the Trump-Pence team take over the Presidency.