Members of Key West’s black community are crying foul, accusing Fantasy Fest organizers and some city police officers of racism — a claim organizers and police ardently deny.
A Fantasy Fest parade float, organized by residents of Bahama Village and featuring black dancers in African costumes, was turned off Duval Street at Caroline Street by police during the parade and was not allowed to proceed down the majority of the route.
No one denies this.
“They showed us they didn’t want us and we were the only black float,” said float organizer and Bahama Village resident Veronica Stafford. “They treat us like nothing, and that’s what they always do to Bahama Village. The police didn’t serve us.”
All parties agree the float was turned off of Duval Street, but, says Fantasy Fest director Nadene Grossman Orr, the decision was not based on racism, but on public safety concerns.
In response to letters sent to the Key West mayor and city commissioners by Bahama VIllage residents Arida Wright and Judith Cisneros, Grossman Orr outlined the situation and the decisions that were made that night.
“Unfortunately, because we were at the end of the parade, as usual, we were delayed because of crowds coming in front of the float,” Cisneros wrote. “We could not continue. Apparently there were none or too few parade monitors to help control the crowd to let us through. … Unfortunately, this is the common attitude towards the disappearing black community of Key West. They are made to keep a low profile and act happy, even when they are taken out of a parade, due to the circumstances that should have been controlled. But of course, since it was black people, the attitude is ‘Who cares?’ … I call this as it is. Racism.”
In response to that letter and anotherWright, Grossman Orr wrote that the unfortunate experience was “due to the disregard your group directors had for the rules and requirements we have in place to keep the parade safe and moving at the correct pacing.
“Your beautiful group of dancers were a most welcome inclusion in the parade. Unfortunately, we had to slow and even STOP the parade numerous times to encourage your driver and group to move up and keep on pace. Eventually your group had a substantial gap, spanning more than two blocks and the crowd assumed the parade was over. The streets on Duval filled with spectators and there was no way to clear them to allow you to continue. Key West Police made the decision as a matter of public safety for those spectators and for your participants; there was no way to proceed down the parade route.
“We have received reports from our experienced parade ambassadors and captains that your driver and wheel monitors used profanity and blatantly disregarded their direction during the parade and their pleas for your cooperation.”
Grossman Orr further told the Keys Weekly that the Bahama Village float had violated agreed-upon parade and float rules by allowing three tour buses of float participants into the Truman Waterfront staging area, where buses were prohibited.
Stafford told the Keys Weekly there was no way to move elderly participants from the bus on Simonton Street to the Truman Waterfront. She admitted that buses entered Truman Waterfront, but dropped people off and left immediately.
“I deeply resent you insinuating that we have done anything in this situation that may have been racially inappropriate and I feel no further obligation to justify that,” Grossman Orr wrote. “Bottom line here is that your driver and group were not moving on pace, you ignored our parade captains, ambassadors and Key West Police who were all encouraging you to cooperate so that you could complete the parade. Everyone from our team stands firmly by our decisions in this matter of public safety.”
