Bay police end hate crime investigation of ‘slave’ doll at Nereids Mardi Gras parade
Police say they did not uncover evidence of a hate crime after investigating what happened to a young black girl during the Nereids Mardi Gras Parade.
Nicole Fairconeture of Pass Christian reported to police that a float rider handed her daughter a black doll with a string of beads around its neck and told the girl, “That’s you.”
The girl was so upset she didn’t stay for the rest of the Feb. 16 parade in Waveland, which her family attends every year. Fairconeture said the doll was “dressed like a slave.”
The Waveland and Bay St. Louis police departments investigated the case as a hate crime.
On Wednesday, Bay St. Louis Police chief Gary Ponthieux said “all parties” were cooperative with the investigation but statements were conflicting from witnesses and parade participants.
He said a “white male” who is not a resident of the coastal counties threw the doll.
“It was determined the assorted stuffed dolls and animals, which were distributed by the parade participants, were all hanging by Mardi Gras beads prior to being thrown,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook.
Ponthieux also said police determined there were no statues or ordinances violated, and “there was no intent of hatred.”
The family’s attorney, Michael Crosby of Gulfport, said the child and her parents were “traumatized” by what happened.
“The trauma does not end with the family, however,” Crosby told the Sun Herald in an email. “In fact, it has caused the entire community to suffer as well.”
“We have been careful to avoid saying or doing anything that could impair the investigation because we want the investigation to be fair, thorough and result in justice. We understand that the city will present the FBI with its investigation.
“Perhaps the federal law is more applicable for this type of situation. Obviously, we remain concerned.”
This story was originally published March 4, 2020 at 6:35 PM.
