British mannequins cause racism concerns

LONDON, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- British retail chain All Saints has come under fire for window displays that some say are reminiscent of Ku Klux Klan lynchings.

The window display at the stores across Britain features headless black mannequins suspended from silver chains, The Daily Mail reported Monday.

The Rural Racism Project, based in Devon, England, said it has contacted the chain and asked them to reconsider the display.

"I have received a number of calls from people who are offended by the window display," said John McKenzie, from the Project's monitoring group. "Some of them feel it brings to mind the lynching of black people. A number of those who have complained are white."

"The fact that this year marks the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade has heightened awareness of the subject," he said. "My hope is that the shop may be able to change the display in the light of this level of offense."

"A lot of people have come in to congratulate us on the display," said Tiff Phillips, assistant manager of All Saints in the town of Princesshay.

"There are no heads so there are no grimaces and the mannequins are just hanging there," he said. "The police have been to see us and say we are not breaking any laws and it is the same display as we use in all out stores."