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.
For almost 20 years, this gorilla statue gave joy to children. (photo credit: Corsicana Park Dept.)
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.
Corsicana ape removed
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.” (photo credit: Coriscana Parks Dept.)
“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.
And I’m sure there will be a need to create a “safe space” for those of a delicate nature….Too bad some folks see what isn’t there. It was simply an amusement for the children.
If you self-identify as an (almost) ape then I suppose you might find something racial about the statue, otherwise, I just do not understand.
Besides, why is it always that just a few ‘complaints’ cause such turmoil. (is there an opposite to democracy?)
Michelle was probably one of the complainants…
You guys are insensitive. This was a real gorilla statue that they set free. Unlike the stupid pictures on the animal cracker box
I wonder if Goolag ever fixed their algorithm which couldn’t discern the difference between blacks and gorillas? Maybe that why they’re so sensitive?
https://www.businessinsider.com/google-tags-black-people-as-gorillas-2015-7
actually ‘goolag’ got it wrong. gorillas are more civilized.
Poor Dobby.
I have an original poster of this image, framed and hanging in my living room. Though mine has some condition issues, one like it sells for $2500 on fleabay.
I saw Gargantua back in the 40’s. My godfather would take me to the circus every year. I see his granddaughter occasionally on the floor of he House or on MSNBC.
politically correct minds will not let you show pictures of gorillas or even use the word monkey without inferring you are making a racist analogy. ignorance prevails.
Yup…
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/fl-reg-ron-desantis-andrew-gillum-racist-monkey-20180829-story.html
It’s like the guy that used the word “niggardly” and got fired because people didn’t know the meaning of the word.
I must apologize to Sensetti for failing to defend him against the vicious attack by a crazed housewife. The violent scene made Rocky Raccoon’s dispatch to the other side seem like euthanasia. Come back Sensetti!
It’s rather insulting that he is in a cage. He should be used as law ornament holding a lantern.
The thing that torques me the most about this, is the locale. I keep hoping, hope against hope, that Texas is going to be immune from the PC garbage.
Guess not.
It probably gives those antiSocial JustUs Whiners a hard-on to have the power to affect “important social Change“.
We have way too many people whose sole ambition in life is to find something to protest. We should all point and laugh at those people.
When are they gonna remove Sheila Jackson Lee?
Why insult Dobby?
Blacks are offended when people compare them to monkeys or gorillas but go nuts to see a fake gorilla in a cage because it’s racist? You can’t have it both ways. Maybe the SJWs would be happier with a unicorn sprinkling pixie dust.