Muslim Group Urges Fireworks Retailers to Pull Anti-Arab Product From Shelves
“Run Hadji Run” fireworks are drawing the ire of a local Muslim advocacy group who say the pyrotechnic products are spreading racist images.
The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations on Friday made a public plea for retailers to pull the products off their shelves because of “derogatory imagery,” according to Jessica Zikri, a spokeswoman for the council’s St. Paul office.
On one side, the package contains cartoon depictions of men in Middle Eastern-style clothing riding camels, with a stealth bomber flying overhead. On another side is an image of Uncle Sam pulling the beard of a graying man in a turban.
“It looks like something that could have come out 50 or 60 years ago, but not today,” Zikri said. “I guess it’s just a signal that these anti-Arab sentiments are still out there. And we don’t think they should be for sale.”
A local shopper spotted “Run Hadji Run” on the shelves of a fireworks retailer Friday and contacted the council, Zikri said. The council called the retailer — Fireworks City in Baldwin, Wis. — and asked them to stop selling the item.
The retailer reportedly agreed to the request, but declined to confirm it when reached by the Pioneer Press by phone.
The term “Hadji” is a title of respect for those who have made the pilgrimage to Mecca, the council said.
“Run Hadji Run” is a multicolored aerial fireworks product that fires off 16 shots, according to redrhinofireworks.com— whose company once imported the product.
A spokesman for Red Rhino Fireworks said Friday that the company doesn’t manufacture “Run Hadji Run.”
“It’s an item that was sold by this company before I was even here,” said Steve Houser, president of Red Rhino Fireworks. “I’ve been here for three years, and I haven’t seen one.”
The company imports fireworks from China, he said, and this was something that must have been chosen by Red Rhino’s previous owners.
Still, Zikri said, the product is “offensive to everyone” and should be removed from store shelves.
Elizabeth Mohr
twincities.com
Caption for Enclosed Picture:
One side of the “Run Hadji Run” fireworks’ package depicts Uncle Sam pulling the beard of a graying man in a turban, while the other side shows men in Middle Eastern-style clothing riding camels, with a stealth bomber flying overhead.