# Racism in Iowa State Fair **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 25, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420 "2010-08-25T17:01:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420/1 "2010-08-25T17:01:52Z")
Sometimes racism really appalls me. There were some racial attacks at the Iowa State Fair, of all places. So much for family fun, even police officers were attacked. Des Moines police are trying to determine what led to a series of attacks outside the Iowa State Fairgrounds over the weekend that included the assault of two police officers. … Sgt. David Murillo stated in a report on Friday night, "On-duty officers at the fairgrounds advise there was a group of 30 to 40 individuals roaming the fairgrounds openly calling it ‘beat whitey night.’ " My favorite part: “We don’t know if this was juveniles fighting or a group of kids singling out white citizens leaving the fairgrounds,” Sgt. Lori Lavorato said. “It’s all under investigation, **but it’s very possible it has racial overtones**.” Gee, you think? [http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100824/NEWS01/8240366/1001/NEWS/Police-say-it-s-very-possible-attacks-near-fairgrounds-had-racial-overtones](http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100824/NEWS01/8240366/1001/NEWS/Police-say-it-s-very-possible-attacks-near-fairgrounds-had-racial-overtones) ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420/2 "2010-08-25T17:17:06Z")
I wonder if it had anything to do with that night being traditionally called “East sider night”. Thus it turned into Beat Whitey night. The east side is generally working class white. Kinda sad that we either have what appears (on the surface) to be a racial issue or some ugly ass sculptures on the border with NE that put the state in the Dope. Come on Iowa - you can do better than this crap, dammit. :mad: ☹ ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420/3 "2010-08-25T17:42:39Z")
Damn. We have enough to live down, what with [Steve King rivaling Sarah Palin for idiocy](http://www.kingwatch.org/King_Quotes.html) and millions of eggs spreading salmonella. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420/4 "2010-08-25T17:55:46Z")
Was the [Butter Cow](http://www.iowastatefair.com/entertainment/buttercow.php) ok? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420/5 "2010-08-25T18:27:37Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Was the [Butter Cow](http://www.iowastatefair.com/entertainment/buttercow.php) ok? The cow is yellow so the thugs were pretty sure it knew kung fu so they wisely left it alone. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420/6 "2010-08-25T18:31:37Z")
There’s black people in Iowa? Wow, you learn something new every day. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420/7 "2010-08-25T18:54:28Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > There’s black people in Iowa? > > Wow, you learn something new every day. From the reports currently in, they did have to recruit Hispanics to help out. I wonder if the anti-immigration groups will use this as an example of how Mexicans are stealing jobs the rest of us are not willing to do. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420/8 "2010-08-26T20:39:20Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > > [@Hampshire](#): > > > > There’s black people in Iowa? > > > > Wow, you learn something new every day. > > From the reports currently in, they did have to recruit Hispanics to help out. I wonder if the anti-immigration groups will use this as an example of how Mexicans are stealing jobs the rest of us are not willing to do. At least they didn’t outsource the beatings to India. It’s pretty hard to club someone over the phone. There are some customer service professionals I think I tried it on… ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420/9 "2010-08-26T20:42:19Z")
If you’re going to pick a place where it’s a good idea to intimidate and/or harm white people, might you find a more suitable location than Iowa? ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420/10 "2010-08-27T14:09:04Z")
Racism is racism, why is it amusing when directed against whites but the subject of the deepest gravity when directed against other ethnic groups ? A little bit of hypocrisy going on here it seems. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420/11 "2010-08-27T14:22:53Z")
Racism “in” the fair made me think this was a booth or something. “Step right up, step right up! I’ll guess your weight or, if you’re white, punch you in the face! STEP RIGHT UP!” ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420/12 "2010-08-27T14:29:11Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Racism “in” the fair made me think this was a booth or something. “Step right up, step right up! I’ll guess your weight or, if you’re white, punch you in the face! STEP RIGHT UP!” Why are you making jokes? Racist! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420/13 "2010-08-27T15:28:48Z")
Obviously, those kids were simply big honoring legendary blues trumpeter Duncan “Beat” Whitey. ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420/14 "2010-08-27T16:51:49Z")
:eek:🆒 That butter cow is AMAZING!! ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420/15 "2010-08-27T17:33:59Z")
In 2005, the Iowa State Fair featured a [butter sculpture of Tiger Woods](http://www.seriouseats.com/images/20080820-tiger-7.jpg). Oh, how the mighty have melted. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420/16 "2010-08-27T17:44:56Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Damn. We have enough to live down, what with [Steve King rivaling Sarah Palin for idiocy](http://www.kingwatch.org/King_Quotes.html) and millions of eggs spreading salmonella. Thank goodness! I thought you mean Stephen King, horror writer. Though Steve King’s is pretty horrific himself :mad: ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420/17 "2010-08-27T17:46:02Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > At least they didn’t outsource the beatings to India. It’s pretty hard to club someone over the phone. There are some customer service professionals I think I tried it on… Great, now I can’t get out of my head the sound of someone talking smack in a comical Indian accent. It’s the funniest thing ever, really. [Russell Peters on the Indian accent](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw6RgIf6epQ) ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-in-iowa-state-fair/551420/18 "2010-08-27T18:01:04Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > In 2005, the Iowa State Fair featured a [butter sculpture of Tiger Woods](http://www.seriouseats.com/images/20080820-tiger-7.jpg). Oh, how the mighty have melted. Why do white people like sculpting things out of butter? One of the big attractions at the MN state fair is they’ll sculpt your head from butter. Shouldn’t they be putting that on pancakes or something?