American Red Cross apologizes for poster some call racist

DENVER – The American Red Cross issued an apology Monday for a water safety poster that some suggested had a racist message.

The cartoon poster showed children playing in a swimming pool. Nearly all of the white children’s activities were labeled as “cool,” while the children of colour were depicted acting in unsafe ways and were labeled “not cool.”

KUSA-TV talked to Margaret Sawyer, who first saw the poster in Salida, Colorado, and then again in Fort Morgan, Colorado.

She said she first thought it was outdated — that it couldn’t be a recent poster.

A Red Cross spokesman says the posters have since been removed and more appropriate material is being developed. – AP