Gorilla Statue Removed After Complaints It Was ‘Racially Insensitive’

[Teh One Who Knocks]

CBS Dallas-Ft Worth




CORSICANA (CBSDFW.COM) – A statue of a gorilla, and prime attraction for kids at the Community Park playground in Corsicana was removed by the city.

A spokesperson for the city said some community members found the gorilla offensive – racially insensitive — in some form, and requested its removal from the park.

“We can understand this, because we have an obligation to listen to all our citizens, to determine what is offensive and not, especially in public places,” said Corsicana Mayor Don Denbow.

Denbow saw an uptick in complaints about the playground primate during the last few weeks. There were more and more phone calls, and personal discussions, and he, the city manager and a city council member, decided it needed to come down.

Part of a playful, circus-theme, the man-made gorilla held his ground for 19 years. It was in a cage, since it wasn’t reinforced and could fall over if kids climbed on it.

Most would say he never bothered anyone, giving only joy to children whose imaginations are anything but politically correct.

But now, in his absence, memorials and growing crowds at sit-ins fill the void. A protestor sits in the cage, refusing to move until the gorilla is returned.



Mayor Denbow said he’s open to the gorilla returning “in some form” due to the backlash from people who don’t support their decision to oust it.

“It was a little strange, a little random, very unexpected,” one protestor told CBS 11 News.

Those in opposition said they would have liked to at least weigh in on the discussion.

A Facebook page called ” In Memory Of Dobby” was started in memoriam of the gorilla. Fans shared their memories and posted pics, too.

[Goofy]

Shouldve just painted it white........ fuckin offended retards

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Shouldve just painted it white........ fuckin offended retards

[Goofy]

The folk who complained? Yeah, i tend to agree

[Teh One Who Knocks]

The folk who complained? Yeah, i tend to agree

[RBP]

[Muddy]

Shouldve just painted it white........ fuckin offended retards

For real, make it an Albino Gorilla.. Who gives a shit!!

[Teh One Who Knocks]

You do realize that whoever put that stature there in the first place, fully meant it to be mocking of black people, don't you?

[The Monk]

Please explain how an animal can be considered racist?

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Please explain how an animal can be considered racist?

Because sometimes people will call a black person a 'monkey' which is derogatory, so therefore, the gorilla statue in the cage can ONLY mean that it's a subtly racist way of showing whitey keeping the black man in a cage.

[Hal-9000]

It's the connection that the complainers are making that's racist. How bloody ironic.

[deebakes]

harambe