Post by Lux on May 31, 2008 8:56:00 GMT 12
A Kapiti politician is defending his decision to wear a Ku Klux Klan-like outfit to a district council meeting despite the district's mayor calling for an apology.
Paraparaumu-Raumati Community Board deputy chairman Dale Evans said he wore the costume as a form of political satire to protest against Hoodie Day and to highlight a water problem on the coast.
The KKK-style outfit was not meant to cause offence, he said. "It was never meant to create any racial disharmony - many of my friends are coloured. In today's world you have to do something outrageous to make people sit up, listen, look and learn."
Ku Klux Klan is a secret white supremacist organisation in the United States which terrorised and lynched African Americans, Jews and other racial minorities.
Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said wearing the outfit to the council meeting was not an offence under the Human Rights Act, but as a symbol of a racial supremacist organisation, it would resonate very negatively with those who saw it.
"While it may be offensive, it is not illegal because of the right to freedom of expression," he said.
It was up to the mayor to decide whether the outfit was not conducive to good debate because it was highly offensive or whether the principal of freedom of expression was more important, he said.
Kapiti Mayor Jenny Rowan said she was disappointed by the insensitivity and lack of respect Mr Evans showed by wearing the outfit.
"He is passionate about his causes but his behaviour was offensive and the council and wider community deserve an apology from him. I defend his right to freedom but with that comes responsibility and consequences.
"It is not the first time he has brought the proceedings of the council and community into disrepute - he needs to decide if he wants to be a stunt man or an elected representative who works constructively with others."
SHAME.
Paraparaumu-Raumati Community Board deputy chairman Dale Evans said he wore the costume as a form of political satire to protest against Hoodie Day and to highlight a water problem on the coast.
The KKK-style outfit was not meant to cause offence, he said. "It was never meant to create any racial disharmony - many of my friends are coloured. In today's world you have to do something outrageous to make people sit up, listen, look and learn."
Ku Klux Klan is a secret white supremacist organisation in the United States which terrorised and lynched African Americans, Jews and other racial minorities.
Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said wearing the outfit to the council meeting was not an offence under the Human Rights Act, but as a symbol of a racial supremacist organisation, it would resonate very negatively with those who saw it.
"While it may be offensive, it is not illegal because of the right to freedom of expression," he said.
It was up to the mayor to decide whether the outfit was not conducive to good debate because it was highly offensive or whether the principal of freedom of expression was more important, he said.
Kapiti Mayor Jenny Rowan said she was disappointed by the insensitivity and lack of respect Mr Evans showed by wearing the outfit.
"He is passionate about his causes but his behaviour was offensive and the council and wider community deserve an apology from him. I defend his right to freedom but with that comes responsibility and consequences.
"It is not the first time he has brought the proceedings of the council and community into disrepute - he needs to decide if he wants to be a stunt man or an elected representative who works constructively with others."
SHAME.
