A 'Wild West' display at Blackpool Illuminations has been removed by the council following complaints that it reinforces "racial stereotypes" about Native Americans, LancsLive reported.
The controversial display depicts six men in headdresses around a totem pole. Tony Perry, an NHS manager, author and member of the Chickasaw Nation tribe, filed a complaint to Blackpool Council over the display located to the north of Blackpool Promenade.
A letter from the tribe dated in September last year said the display paints Blackpool "as a community that supports racism and discrimination." Now the decision has been taken to remove it entirely following pressure from Tony and another citizen. Read more: Boy, 14, charged with assault and possession of a bladed article after another teen was stabbed in park After what Tony describes as a "productive" eight months since filing the complaint, Blackpool Council has made the decision to replace the display.
It's a move, Tony explains, that isn't about "replacing" but instead finding something "better". Tony told LancsLive: "The council were very responsive to my concerns, I raised them in September last year and they responded quite quickly then to say they would take it under review.
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