It is really frightening to consider the losing costumes.
Julie Myers
Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Julie Myers, who oversees illegal export investigations as head of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has apologized for condoning a Halloween party costume depicting a black dread locked prisoner.
(Charles Dharapak/AP Photo)
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This AP story is from Think Progress.
Bush official lauded racially offensive Halloween costume.
Julie Myers, head of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement division, has apologized for “awarding ‘most original costume’ to a Homeland Security Department employee who dressed in prison stripes, dreadlocks and dark makeup for a Halloween gathering at the agency.” The AP reports:
Julie Myers, assistant secretary overseeing Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement division, was part of a three-judge panel that lauded the costume, worn by a white employee, last Wednesday. She also posed for a photo with him. […]
The employee who wore the costume was not identified, but ICE spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said he was counseled by his supervisor. He was not wearing blackface but makeup that was a darker color than his skin, Nantel said.
The photo of Myers and the employee has been discarded. Myers has been sharply criticized for her lack of qualifications to head the division. She is the niece of former Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Richard B. Myers and married to U.S. attorney in Missouri John F. Wood, who was Michael Chertoff’s former top aide.
You’ll notice that this edited photograph shows an empty area in front of Michael Chertoff who was standing back and to the left of Ms. Meyers. Obviously, something had been in that empty space.
I was able to find the original prints before the Stalinist-style eradication of unwanted subjects.
Unconfirmed rumors claim that Ms. Meyers may have said, “The Black in prison duds may be first, but all of you are winners.”
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