A Kentucky man has come to the defense of a President Obama display that some people in the area have deemed racist. However, Danny Hafley doesn’t feel the mannequin is offensive.
According to The Huffington Post , Hafley’s front yard display finds President Barack Obama holding a piece of watermelon which has a bite taken out of it.
Although some people feel the Barack Obama mannequin is racist and inappropriate, Hafley believes his display is ultimately protected by the first amendment.
The Kentucky resident told WLEX 18 :
“The way I look at it, it’s freedom of speech. I don’t know how other people will take it. That’s my buddy. He don’t talk. Don’t make no smart comments. If I had a dollar for everyone who stopped and took a picture of it I’d be a millionaire.”
As for the watermelon clutched in the Obama mannequin’s hands, Hafley said he gave the display some food since the President “might get hungry standing out here.”
According to KSDK , neighbors said the controversial mannequin originally held a sign when Hafley set it up ahead of the November elections.
“Let’s pray that he don’t destroy America, or something to that effect,” the neighbor explained.
While Hafley said the racist Obama display was originally intended as a joke, neighbors said that some people could very easily take offense to the mannequin.
“We don’t have black people in this community, but I’m sure they travel this road just like everybody else does. They could be offended,” Hafley’s neighbor said.
Prior to using the mannequin as a makeshift Obama, the Kentucky man used the display to poke fun at Hustonville Police Chief Fred McCoy. In that particular instance, Hafley removed the mask and outfitted the mannequin with a uniform which read “Stupidville Police Department.”
Do you think the Kentucky man’s President Obama display is racist?
