Trump executing Hillary in electric chair on float in parade

Posted on: October 5, 2016 at 12:21:39 CT

SIPH

Parade float depicting Trump, Clinton stirs controversy in Aurora

Creator says float featuring Trump pulling switch on Clinton in electric chair was 'made for laughter'

http://www.wlwt.com/article/parade-float-depicting-trump-clinton-stirs-controversy-in-aurora/4468329

AURORA, Ind. — A parade of criticism and complaint is swirling through the small river town of Aurora, Indiana, after a controversial float was part of Saturday’s annual Farmers Fair Parade.
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The float was composed of several parts. There were Trump-Pence political signs on it and familiar anti-Hillary Clinton slogans.

There were also two depictions some people said they found offensive and over the line.

Someone portraying Hillary Clinton was seated in an electric chair while someone portraying Donald Trump operated the switch.

There was also a characterization that had a sign reading "Obama" just above it.

Jackie Reynolds was walking in the parade with her daughter’s Girl Scout troop and noticed it, and said, “For us to be in 2016 and have our president depicted as an Easter Island statue in blackface, which doesn’t even make any sense, but it’s just racist as can be.”

She found it very upsetting and sent an email to the Lions Club, which organizes the parade.

“My daughter was absolutely thrilled to be in the parade this year,” she wrote. “But knowing that we are marching alongside displays like this really makes me question whether or not we will be participating next year.”

The Farmers Fair Parade in Aurora attracts families and children. It's a small-town event that generates a large amount of community pride.

The Lions Club determines which floats participate. In a statement from the group Monday, officials said in part, "the parade is a public venue which does not reflect the views of the Aurora Lions Club. As a member of a worldwide service organization, we are proud and standby our record of service to this community."

There is normally no controversy associated with the event, and certainly nothing like the firestorm this river town has seen since Saturday.

Frank Linkmeyer, 76, who developed the float, told WLWT, "It definitely was all for laughter. We've always had floats for laughter. There's never been anything else but that."

Linkmeyer insisted he had no intent to be offensive or racially insensitive to anyone.

Jackie Reynolds, Penny Britton and Tony Moore are vocalizing publicly what many folks are saying privately.

“I’m raising a daughter in this town and I try to teach her to respect everyone and treat people the way she would like to be treated,” Moore said.

Britton, a mother, didn’t see the float until someone sent her a picture of it. She ignited the pushback when she posted that picture on Facebook.

“It instantly turned my stomach,” Britton said. “One of the pictures shows children seeing the float go by and staring at it.”

Linkmeyer stated if anyone took offense at his float, he is "very sorry."

He knows he has stirred up controversy and said his floats in years past were meant to create humorous moments, not offensive ones.

"I could've taken and put Donald Trump in that float and had Hillary pull the handle. Nevertheless, I would have never pleased everybody and it was definitely all for laughter," he said.

Here's what he said about how the statue characterizing President Obama found a place on his float:

"Do you know, that we were getting ready to get in that parade and this thing was sittin' in front of this gentleman's building down there and they said, ‘Let's put that on there,’ and I didn't give it a thought."

The display has lit up Aurora’s social media and stirred plenty of street chatter since Saturday. Reactions have ranged from shock and disgust all the way to "get a grip and lighten up."

“I thought it was funny. I really did,” Maureen Baker, who has lived in Aurora for 45 years, said. “Personally, I was not offended. But then, you know, everybody has feelings. And opinions are like noses: Everybody has one.”

As opinions about all of this bounce around Aurora, the process for how the Lions Club evaluates the floats is receiving scrutiny.

“I’d just like to know, you know, what are our options for next year to ensure that a display like this isn’t allowed?” Reynolds said. “I’m all for free speech, but there has to be a line.”

Linkmeyer indicated he would have another float next year for the Farmers Fair parade.

He didn't specify what it would be, but mused about maybe poking some irreverent fun at the news media.

Dearborn County Democrats Chair Tristica Howard called the float offensive.

"It is the consequence of the divisive, hateful campaign rhetoric we're seeing from the Donald Trump-Mike Pence campaign. I do hope that Governor Pence does condemn this sort of behavior as soon as possible because it does not reflect Hoosier values. We deserve better," she said in a statement to WLWT.

WLWT also spoke with Dearborn County Republican Chair Lynn Deddens who was in the parade and she said she was shocked by the float and emphasized the party had no involvement with it whatsoever.

In a statement from the city of Aurora, officials said “the city of Aurora refuses to believe that this particular float is in anyway a reflection of the Aurora Lions Club or its members. The city of Aurora has no involvement in selecting float participants. The imagery portrayed by the float is simply not consistent with the values of our citizens or who we want to be as a city.”