"A small North Carolina town's Fourth of July parade was mired in controversy after a float touting "White History Month" drew a number of complaints from parade attendees.
The Fayetteville Observer reported Saturday that Hope Mills, N.C. parade included a float attached to a John Deere tractor, driven by local farmer Donnie Spell. The float included a large wagon filled with watermelons, and featured a sign that read "White History Month. Hug WTE PPL." A Confederate flag was also attached to the tractor.
"This should be over, all that stuff should be over," Hope Mills resident Suzanne Singletary told ABC11. "I don't understand why people are still living like this."
Spell applied for and received a permit to participate in the parade. However, according to town officials, Spell said the sign on his wagon would read "Watermelons for sale."
Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner told the Fayetteville Observer she had received a number of complaints about the float, and that the parade's board would review the float application process to prevent similar incidents in the future.
"I believe we've got to make sure we're sensitive to all people's feelings," she said" [Source]
And that includes Donnie. The guy wants to celebrate "White History Month" and remind us what the 4th of July is really about. He is not hurting anyone, and he didn't build his float with public funds; so let him participate.
I know he lied about what his float would say, but if you can allow a guy to sell his watermelons, you can allow him to celebrate white history as well.
Besides, I am sure that there were some folks in the parade crowd thinking, "way to go, Donnie."
