A group of men in Wales have been accused of racism after painting their faces black and dressing as members of the Jamaican bobsleigh team from the film Cool Runnings, prompting a police investigation.
The men were on a float taking part in the annual bank holiday carnival in Aberaeron, a seaside town in Cerdigion, wearing black wigs and bodysuits coloured green, yellow and back – the colours of the Jamaican flag.
A sign on their float quoted the 1993 film, which was loosely based on the Jamaica national bobsleigh team during the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. It read: “Feel the Rhythm! Feel the Rhyme! Get on up, it’s bobsled time!”
However, a complaint was made to police, who confirmed they were looking into it.
A police spokesperson told The Independent: “Dyfed-Powys police received a report of a perceived hate incident, which occurred at Aberaeron carnival on Monday, August 28. An entry to the carnival parade was considered racist.
"Inquiries are being made by local officers."
Dinah Mulholland, the Labour candidate for Ceredigion in the June 2017 elections, wrote on her Facebook page: “Utterly horrified to see this…how could this have been considered acceptable, even legal, by the carnival organisers?"
"I would like a statement from Elizabeth Evans, LibDem councillor for Aberaeron who was at the carnival today, denouncing this.”
Jim James, a man visiting the town, told The Guardian: “I must admit we were a bit shocked. It might have been ok if they hadn’t blacked their faces.”
Another resident said: “So are we now living in an era where we can’t dress up as our favourite movie characters? You are creating more of a problem instead of living in harmony.”
