Neighbors are criticizing an Alabama sheriff for a "racist" Halloween display they say "crosses a line."
Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch has a Halloween display in his yard featuring three skeletons dressed in "ICE" T-shirts chasing two skeletons in Mexican ponchos and sombreros over a fence, The Guardian reports.
People in the neighborhood and Latino interest groups responded to it.
“It’s hard to put into words how disappointing it is to see our elected sheriff use his own front yard to mock and dehumanize a group of people,” neighbor Whitney Newman wrote on Facebook, calling the display inappropriate considering Burch is an elected law enforcement official in the county.
“I don’t think it’s cute or funny. And coming from a law enforcement official makes it exponentially worse. This crosses a line from tasteless joke into a public statement about who deserves dignity,” Newman added.
His wife, Michelle, has claimed that she created the scene and that she rotates the theme.
“My husband had nothing to do with these, other than mowing the grass around them,” she wrote in a statement to WKRG 5. “I made this one, playing both on my Cuban background and new, needed changes in federal immigration enforcement.”
"My parents were legal immigrants, and I have plenty of immigrants throughout my family. I’ll make a new one shortly – we have no shortage of topics to cover,” she said.
Grace Resendez McCaffery, owner of Latino Media Gulf Coast in Pensacola, told WKRG 5 that she drove to the home in Mobile, Alabama, to personally check out the display herself.
“It’s extremely disappointing and sad,” McCaffery said.
“It’s questionable whether these are messages that indicate or perpetuate fear, which of course leads to racism,” McCaffery said. “Whether it’s done by another immigrant or Hispanic person, it’s still harmful.”
Another Latino organization responded, issuing this statement on social media:
"The Latin community in Mobile, Alabama is a vibrant community that contributes to the overall success of the city and the region. The focus of the Hispanic American Business Association of the Gulf Coast remains on the mission of our organization and the meaningful impact we continue to make in our city. For years, we have celebrated the vibrant culture, contributions, and resilience of the Latin community, strengthening Mobile through cultural events, educational initiatives, economic development, and civic engagement. Our unwavering commitment is to build bridges, promote understanding, and create opportunities that uplift all residents. We stand united, moving forward with purpose and dedication to making Mobile a more inclusive, vibrant, and welcoming city for everyone."
