White History Month Float Stirs Controversy!

Wonder why The South lost? Beats me! But I know they're still relishing on being losers!

A town outside of Fayetteville, North Carolina had it's Fourth of July parade in which a farmer brought some unwanted attention to his float. He used his First Amendment speech to promote his float.

On his float is regards to WHITE HISTORY MONTH. And asking the public to have sympathy for a White person by giving them a hug.

In the Fayetteville Observer reports that the tractor was a feature at the parade and it's attracted controversy.

Several spectators at the Hope Mills Fourth of July parade have complained to town officials that they're offended by a float that appeared in the parade Thursday.

The incident is prompting officials to review the town's parade application process later this month.

In the parade that went through downtown Hope Mills, a float carrying a bed full of watermelons was attached to a John Deere tractor. A Confederate flag was attached to the back. On each side, there were two small white signs. They said "White History Month" and "hug wht ppl."

Town officials have received about a dozen phone calls or emails about the float. Others have voiced concerns on the Facebook page of the town's Parks and Recreation Department as well as on social media.

The float was one of eight entered by Donnie Spell in Thursday's parade, said Kenny Bullock, director of the Parks and Recreation Department.

Spell could not be reached for comment Friday.

Bullock said Friday he had asked a member of Spell's family to take the signs down before the parade started Thursday morning. He said he does not know why they did not comply with the request.

He learned the signs were still on the tractor midway through the parade when people started calling his cell phone, he said.

Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner said she received a few phone calls and an email about the float. She did not see the float during Thursday's festivities because she was part of the parade. She later saw a photo of the float.

Conservatives believe Blacks are "racist" because they have Black History Month. Conservatives don't understand why Blacks have a month devoted to them, but not to White people.

"I believe we've got to make sure we're sensitive to all people's feelings," she said.

The spectator who sent her the email said the float is not representative of the Hope Mills community. She agreed and said residents should not have to see a float they find offensive in the parade.

"Our town has become more diverse," she said Friday.

All floats in town parades are entered through the Parks and Recreation Department, Bullock said. He said the application process includes a brief description of what a float will include. Those signs were not included in Spell's application, he said.

Bullock said Spell has entered tractors in the town's parades, which also includes a Christmas parade, for years.

The board plans to review the application process to ensure it does not happen again, Warner and Bullock said.

Warner said the discussion will be added to the commissioners' July 15 meeting.

Bullock said recreation officials will make recommendations to the commissioners about how to better screen floats in the future.

"I feel like, in my opinion, I feel like there's a time and a place for everything," Bullock said. "Was the parade the place? I don't think so."