Residents of small town in Mississippi said they do not care that its Christmas parade grand marshal has been listed on the sex offender registry in two different states.
Michael Clay Saripkin, a convicted sex offender, served as grand marshal of the Sardis Christmas parade on December 11.
Some residents of the Mississippi town told local media that they saw no problem with Saripkin’s role in the Christmas parade. Carolyn Whaley, owner of The Eclectic Emporium on Main Street, told WMC that everyone in town knew Saripkin was a sex offender and it did not bother her that he had been chosen.
See: https://all4consolaws.org/2018/12/ak-cyranos-theatre-co-will-drop-an-actor-who-is-a-registered-sex-offender-after-social-media-backlash/comment-page-1/#comment-218470 for a post from Mr. S____ himself.
Of course Newsweek had to get in a cheap shot by adding the bit about the YMCA santa. I couldn’t just be a good story. smh.
This is huge, it is great news. Every time an RSO is accepted and does some achievement it helps our cause. This shows how important it is for everyone of us to be a good example in our daily lives. Because every time a politician or the media says some derogatory remark about us people who know us will say, no, I know so and so and that is not true.
@ Bob,
I noticed that also. Wish I could comment on the article itself (only possible through Facebook and I’m not allowed to use it). I wonder what exactly was the purpose of sneaking in the YMCA story on the tails of this one as opposed to separately? I would email the reporter to ask, but in my experience they always blame the editors, and editors almost never answer (to me, at least).
This is truly a great article. Really nice to hear about his acceptance, BUT this guy hasn’t learned his lesson! He has been arrested numerous times and has multiple convictions as well? I hope him all the best, but I couldn’t refrain from noting this.
The anonymous, disapproving resident made a revealing comment. He can’t articulate why it’s wrong for a registrant to be grand marshal – he just feels that it’s wrong. How many of our legislators rely on the same conclusory and emotional reasoning to justify the laws they pass?
I would just like to point out that it seems like the only people who care about these registries are white caucasian people. To me, the registry is a tool that subtly suggests that white kids are more valuable than other races and it is no coincidence that the people who spearhead movements against a sex offender are ALL white. Am i imagining this?