A parade float depicting a Sikh riding a manure spreader called the Liberal has caused outrage on social media.
The controversial float took part in Saturday’s Sundre Pro Rodeo parade. Didesbury resident Mike Crampton was in a parade with his family when he took pictures of the float.
“My wife pointed it out, and I was just a little shocked and quickly grabbed a few pictures, just because I wasn’t quite sure what I was seeing,” Crampton said.
Crampton described what he saw as a low point.
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“It’s so frustrating that people think it’s good, you know,” he said. “It’s like this normalized random racism that they just let go of and think it’s a good thing to put in front of a public event.”
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Since then, the images have gone viral and caused outrage on Twitter and Facebook among local leaders.
Anila Lee Ewen, chief executive of the Newcomer Center, wrote on Twitter that the float was “outrageous, which is why we, as people of color, Alberts, must continue to defend our decisions to live in the countryside.”
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Conservative MP from Calgary Forest Lone Jasray Halan condemned the statement on Twitter, calling it “absolutely disgusting”, adding that “these actions have no place in Canada.”
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Calgary Skyview Liberal MP George Chahal called it a disgrace to those responsible. Chahal – who is a Sikh – says the float is an outright attack on his people and their community.
“As Canadians and Alberts, we need to be concerned about what we saw on display yesterday, that people think it’s good to target my community and racial communities.
The Sikh community in Canada, of which I am a proud member, has a wide variety of political views.
More importantly, the Sikhs were a sustained force for good in Alberta and throughout the country.
Shame on those responsible for this despicable act of racism. https://t.co/WMYa46IIN0
– George Chahal (@ChahalGeorge) June 26, 2022
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In a Facebook post, Sundre Pro Rodeo, which does not monitor the floats for the parade, posted a statement apologizing, noting that “If we had known about the float, we would never have approved it.”
“We send our deepest apologies and something like this will never happen again,” the statement said.
According to a statement issued on behalf of the parade committee monitoring the event, the Sundre Pro Rodeo Parade is intended to be a community celebration showcasing a “positive family experience”.
The statement said an investigation had been conducted and found that the float “joined the parade without going through any registration.” To be clear, he was not approved. “
Chahal said he planned to visit Sundre in the coming days.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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