"Illegal Alien" Costume Controversy
NEW BERLIN - A costume sold by a New Berlin company has angered immigrant groups all over the country. They don't think it's funny.
The Halloween costume is called "Illegal Alien." The words illegal alien are written on an orange prison jumpsuit. The costume also comes with an alien mask and a plastic green card. It's advertised as "sure to get some laughs." But many immigrant rights groups don't find it funny.
"I just think it's outrageous," Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera, said.
Neumann-Ortiz fights for immigrant rights, and said the costume makes fun of the battles immigrants fight on a daily basis.
"It was so disappointing to see this because it's about promoting hatred. It's about characterizing a group of people who are suffering terribly right now," Neumann-Ortiz said.
Neumann-Ortiz encouraged everyone who is offended by the costume to complain to the stores who sell it.
Thousands of people have complained nationwide, prompting stores like Target to pull the costume.
Toys-R-Us no longer has the costume on its Web site.
It's listed as out of stock on Amazon.com.
But Buyseasons.com, which is headquartered in New Berlin and sells the costume on line and to major retailers nationwide, won't pull it.
"We don't think this costume magnifies any particular issue or political event," Buyseasons.com President and CEO Jalem Getz said.
Buyseasons.com said they researched whether or not their customers find the costume offensive. Their polls and research showed it doesn't offend the majority of people.
"You can't please everyone. With a very large assortment of costumes we try to at least have something for everyone," Getz said.
Buyseasons.com said the debate and controversy surrounding the costume actually made it more popular. The illegal alien costume is now sold out.
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