Halloween display of hanging dummy alongside Confederate flag stirs controversy

Published 6:15 pm Thursday, October 22, 2015

MCALESTER, Ok. —  A dummy hanging from a tree near a Confederate battle flag is attracting attention from passers-by on a residential Oklahoma street, and some say they are deeply offended by the display.

The man who created the arrangement in front of his home contends display is only a Halloween decoration.

This isn’t the first time Halloween decorations have struck a nerve. In Fort Campbell on the Tennessee-Kentucky border, there was a display that showed what appeared to be a black family hanging from a tree. In Butler, New Jersey there was an anti-ISIS display that some found offensive, also featuring figures hanging from trees.

In McAlester, the man, who identified himself as Billy James, acknowledged the display is attracting attention.

As James spoke, the Confederate flag fluttered in the breeze as the dummy swung back and forth overhead. The dummy has a “head” consisting of several colors, with one side of what would be the face area a dark white or light gray, and the other side a dark blue.

“It’s a Halloween decoration,” James said Thursday. “If it offends somebody, tough ****.”

In response to a citizen complaint, the McAlester News-Capital stopped by to take a look at the display and ask James what he intended to depict.

“There’s nothing illegal. There’s nothing racist.” James said.

“I have black friends; no racial thing’s intended,” said James, who did use a racial slur for African Americans during the conversation. He said the word he used also applied to some white people.

The News-Capital asked James drop the word from the conversation and asked why he had chosen that particular display to put next to the Confederate flag.

“No real particular reason,” said James, who noted he also flies an American flag and said he has a right to fly his Confederate flag.

McAlester Chief of Police Gary Wansick said the police department had not received any complaints regarding the display as of Thursday afternoon.

Beaty writes for the McAlester, Oklahoma News-Capital.