A group of teenagers took Halloween too far when they painted their faces black and dressed up as prisoners.
The viral video has drawn widespread condemnation, and Utah Governor Spencer Cox joined the conversation, slamming their actions.
“We strongly condemn racism in all its forms and call on every Utahn to reject such offensive stereotypes, slurs, and attitudes,” Cox told The Daily Beast. “We must do better.”
Three teenage boys in a group of eight were spotted at a Walmart in Cedar City, Utah, on October 31, dressed in Jim Crow-era prison chain gang uniforms and wearing blackface.
In a video circulating on social media, a woman addresses the alleged hate crime, warning them that their futures would be ruined. The trio is standing with five other people, including a girl dressed as a police officer with aviator sunglasses and a pair of handcuffs. The clip begins with the group immediately laughing at the person filming them.
“You guys are not going to get into a college,” the person behind the camera said. “You guys are not going to get any scholarships because this is a hate crime.” To which one boy responded: “We all dropped out of high school. It’s okay,” before laughing and walking away.
The video went viral Monday night as people were outraged to see the group make jokes about the woman accusing them of committing a hate crime. Spectators were also disappointed at parents for allowing their children to leave their homes with the chosen costumes.
“I don’t understand why white parents don’t teach their children to NOT do any type of blackface for Halloween and/or any other occasion,” one Twitter user said.
While another person Tweeted, “If your kids wore blackface as a part of their costume, you f**ked up.”
Another person tweeted, “Welcome to Cedar City, Utah where you can walk in Walmart in blackface. It’s 2022 and young white ppl still find this funny. Why weren’t they arrested? Why aren’t they suspended from school? But racism doesn’t exist, right?”
https://twitter.com/revjamesriley/status/1587447295729188867?s=43&t=rSCtkZF_l3csUaw3_OfJnw
The high school the students attend has yet to release a statement.
