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Canadian news agency
SUNDRE, Alta. — The organizer of a rodeo in southern Alberta apologizes for a parade float with a man wearing a fake beard-bearded turban sitting on a fertilizer spreader with the word "liberal" on the side.
Photos of the floats at the Saturday event in Thunder, Arta, about 80km northwest of Calgary, have been disseminated on social media. It was criticized by a group of Sikhs in Calgary who stated that Float was a racist, and by some Alberta parliamentarians.
Sundre Pro Rodeo posted a statement from the parade committee on Facebook stating that the float was not approved and participated in the parade without passing registration.
Rodeo offered a deeper apology, noting that Float was included as a tractor.
Some people who commented on the apology questioned the allegations of racism, and the black-faced turban and beard man liberalize federal NDP leader Jagmate Singh. He said he intended to portray it as a lap dog.
Sundre Pro Rodeo said in a post that he "promises to guarantee that entries will be reviewed at future events" to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
"SundrePro Rodeo does not approve the float of the parade. It's entirely up to the parade committee! If you knew about the float, you would never approve it!" I read.
"No one had any clue that there was such a blasphemous expression. I'm sorry."
The Liberal Party representing Calgary Skyview Congressman George Chahal accused him of what he called "a sneaky display of racism."
"The Canadian Sikh community I'm proud of has different political perspectives," said a post on Chahar's Twitter account.
"More importantly, the Sikhs were a solid force for good in Alberta and throughout the country."
Conservative lawn Jaslaj on behalf of the Calgary Forest Lawn.・ Shin Haran posted that Float "should be criticized by everyone in the strongest words."
"I absolutely hate this. There is no such thing in Canada," he said in a Twitter post.
The Dashmesh Culture Center, a community group of Sikhs in Calgary, said in a Twitter post that representatives of the rodeo and parade committees welcomed visiting and learning from Sikhs.
"To prevent these forms of racism requires serious conversation and action," the Center wrote in a social media post.
This report by Canadian Press was first published on June 26, 2022.
