A 琉璃神社 home is being investigated by the RCMP after a Halloween display, which included a prop figure hanging from a tree and a banner depicting a flying confederate flag, garnered significant public attention on Wednesday.

鈥淲e have opened an investigation in relation to the circumstances of the effigy and the flag at that location,鈥� Insp. Adam MacIntosh is quoted as saying in a statement. He added that they are taking the incident 鈥渆xtremely seriously鈥� and are working together with bylaw officers to find an appropriate course of action.

鈥淭hese symbols only serve to fuel hatred and division and such behaviour cannot be tolerated in our community and society.鈥�

The Confederate flag has become commonly recognized as a white supremacy symbol, associated with slavery and the Civil War in the United States in the mid-1800s.

The prop figure hung by a noose on a tree on public property in front of the home was taken down Wednesday afternoon. When a Black Press Media reporter visited the scene the previously-hanging effigy remained on the home鈥檚 porch, made of what appear to be black gloves and a black bag.

The RCMP statement says that they are working to speak with the resident of the home about the display and will also be requesting that the flag be removed.

琉璃神社 Mayor Colin Basran was quoted in the RCMP statement expressing gratitude to the RCMP for following up on 鈥渢his terrible public display.鈥�

鈥淭here鈥檚 no place in 琉璃神社 for this kind of racist imagery, which is hurtful to people of colour and all who cherish an inclusive community,鈥� Basran said.

Bruce Ganton has lived next door to the home for around 40 years. He said the man often puts up big Halloween decorations, especially over the last few years, and that he has 鈥渢aken a lot of pride in doing a really good display.鈥�

Ganton said he doesn鈥檛 believe there was negative intent behind the decorations.

鈥淎s you can see from the display, he鈥檚 gone through great lengths to make it look really Halloween-y, and I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 that kind of sinister thought behind anything he does.鈥�

He said his neighbour is a 鈥減retty straightforward type of guy,鈥� and that, though he doesn鈥檛 know him socially very well, he鈥檚 鈥減retty sure that there鈥檚 nothing there.鈥�

The home鈥檚 front gate was locked when Black Press Media was on-site, preventing media from knocking on the front door to request an interview with the home owner.

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josh.fischlin@thefreepress.ca
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