Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch is under fire for a controversial Halloween display in front of his house. Hundreds have already called the display racist. The display featured two plastic skeletons dressed in sombreros and Mexican ponchos. They were on the run across a fence from three skeletal beings with “ICE” T-shirts. This new imagery has raised the ire of neighbors, Hispanic constituency groups and social media users.
The reverse discrimination controversy was sparked by claims by Burch’s wife, Michelle Burch, that she was responsible for creating the controversial display. She referred to it as “tongue-in-cheek,” claiming that it was meant to be funny and not offensive. Yet her detailed explanation hasn’t reduced the tide of backlash, including the scathing rebuke from the area’s own local community leaders.
Latino Media Gulf Coast owner Grace Resendez McCaffery told Al Jazeera she was appalled by the showing. She termed it “outrageously disappointing and heartbreaking.” She emphasized that it sends a harmful message about the Latin community, stating, “It’s questionable whether these are messages that indicate or perpetuate fear, which of course leads to racism.”
Silvia Lessa Skultety, president of the Hispanic American Business Association of the Gulf Coast, expressed her dismay. In a tweet, she described the new display as offensive. She highlighted the contributions of the Latin community to the broader Mobile area, stating, “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.”
This incident comes on the heels of another public relations fiasco involving Paul Burch. He’s gained national notoriety for recently defending his deputies in a video where they brutalized a mentally distressed man named Henry Castilo. The video showed Castilo being punched in the face while restrained by the two officers. Though Burch initially claimed that Castilo was fleeing arrest, the footage has sparked new scrutiny over police homicide.
Sierra Austin, Ohio State University’s Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, provided comments on what these displays mean. Her outlook brings into focus the power and importance of their actions. She remarked that “dressing up like any ethnic/racial group is offensive,” noting that individuals from marginalized communities carry the weight of sociohistorical trauma that cannot be dismissed as mere jokes.
Michelle Burch, defending her draconian actions, invoked her roots in immigration. I literally grew up among radicalization — my parents were legal immigrants themselves, and I have unlimited diversity of immigrants throughout my family. I’ll write a sequel soon – we’re certainly not lacking for nonsense to address,” she noted. Critics argue that her display is symptomatic of a larger issue – cultural appropriation and cultural insensitivity. Despite her protestations of benign purposes, these red flags remain.
Local chambers and business advocates have emphasized that the Gulf Coast region’s strength lies in its beautiful, blended cultural diversity. They say displays like this weaken the community’s diverse and inclusive fabric. The aftermath of this tragic incident has sparked a new wave of debate over the role of immigration and law enforcement in America.
You know, that Sheriff Burch guy, the one with the Halloween display. It has served, too, as a magnifying glass over the infection of race, cultural sensitivity, and duty to serve that still permeates our communities.