HOUSTON – The white banners fly in the Houston Heights for the upcoming White Linen Night. It is one of the community's biggest events of the year. But when Free Press Houston posted an image online of what appears to be Ku Klux Klan members dressed in all white with the words "White Linen Night in the Heights" it was too much for some.
"I don't know why they would use that image. It looks like racism to me," said one Heights resident.
Free Press Houston said it's anti-racist. Publisher Omar Afra, told KPRC 2, "Our newspaper has tirelessly worked against systemic oppression for 13 years. We oftentimes use offensive and satirical images in our editorial and online. The two images that some people are up in arms about are stridently anti-racist images. We make no apologies for burning the Confederate flag. We do, however, apologize to anybody who rightfully took offense."
The organizers of White Linen Night released their own statement, which said:
"We have been made aware of the extremely unfortunate social media posting put out by Free Press this afternoon regarding our event and we are disgusted and disappointed by it. White Linen Nigh In The Heights is about community, supporting small business and art and most of all about inclusion. We have organizers, sponsors and participating businesses of all ethnicities. Our event is not associated in any way with Free Press. It is a shame that as we celebrate the 10th year of our event, that one of Free Press's employees chose to try to denigrate our event that we have worked so hard to make a community celebration for everyone to enjoy."
White Linen Night is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday in the Heights.