NO TAMALES: Stand closed by protest.

  • insidescooponline.com
  • NO TAMALES: Stand closed by protest.

Helena-West Helena Alderman Joe St. Columbia apparently had to shut down his Pasquale’s tamale stand Saturday because of a demonstration about e-mail he’s forwarded that many have characterized as racist. One, linking to a news account of the city’s financial troubles, included a comment, “This is what happens when you put Monkeys in to run the zoo.” That inspired a protest sign Saturday from which I took my headline.

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St. Columbia is white. He’s been defended by Mayor Arnell Willis, who is black. St. Columbia has disavowed racial animosity and said he attends a church led by a black preacher.

The Inside Scoop blog provides in-depth coverage of the tamale war.

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