Julio Mora Rodriguez joined the KEZI 9 News team in October of 2022 as a news reporter. If you have any story ideas, you can email Julio at jrodriguez@kezi.com.
A black inflatable doll hanging from a tree had residents in a Springfield neighborhood furious. Smart Desk Lamp
SPRINGFIELD, Ore -- Many neighbors felt a black blow-up doll dressed in overalls hanging from a tree was a bit too far, even for something meant to be a Halloween decoration.
Many neighbors in the Thurston area said no matter the intention, it could easily be interpreted as racist. One neighbor saw the doll while taking his kid to school. Once he saw the decoration, he took a photo of it and felt it needed to be removed.
He said, "I stopped by to take a closer look, and realized the details and pretty much put together the fact that it could not be anything else than a racist action."
The neighbor said it was reminiscent of lynchings that had happened in the American South.
Other neighbors also said the decoration was too much, and that it crossed some boundaries. Many are happy the homeowner decided to take down the decoration. Neighbors believe much of the controversy could've been avoided if it was just a skeleton or scarecrow hanging instead.
One neighbor said, "I think it would've been a little... more in the decoration realm if it was something along those lines."
The homeowner who put up the decoration said this is all a misunderstanding. They said they've used the same decoration in a different neighborhood for a decade without issue.
Neighbors felt that it was in bad taste, and that nothing this overt has ever happened in this Springfield neighborhood before. There have, however, been more subtle instances of intimidation.
According to residents in the area, one time someone had put tacks in the driveway trying to pop tires. Another time a can of beans was thrown at a neighbors driveway, and some wonder if a racial element played a part in that. Neighbors hope with this episode, people will be more considerate in the future.
Julio Mora Rodriguez joined the KEZI 9 News team in October of 2022 as a news reporter. If you have any story ideas, you can email Julio at jrodriguez@kezi.com.
Julio Mora Rodriguez joined the KEZI 9 News team in October of 2022 as a news reporter. If you have any story ideas, you can email Julio at jrodriguez@kezi.com.
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