Story Published:
Oct 12, 2007 at 7:28 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Oct 14, 2007 at 10:39 AM EDT
What's supposed to be a simple Halloween decoration is now brewing up some controversy in Chicopee. One group is calling the decoration a hate crime.
Driving down East Street in Chicopee it's hard not to notice a witch hanging from a noose. To many, it's an innocent Halloween decoration, but for Kelly Lynch it's offensive.
"We don't harm anyone, we worship god, we are not evil, and we don't cast spells, " says Lynch.
Lynch is a witch. She has been studying witchcraft since she was a child, and says it's her way of life.
"We are just like Christians, Muslims, we have our own religion, " adds Lynch.
That's why when she saw the life-like witch hanging in someones front yard she went straight to the home owner's door.
"He told me to lighten up, it was a Halloween decoration, I know it's his constitutional right, but I want it down. To make that your only decoration...it's kind of odd, " stresses Lynch.
But the owner will do no such thing. His neighbor says he has every intention of keeping it up.
"There's no way it's coming down. I think it's funny people are getting so upset, it's only a decoration, " says neighbor, Kevin Belder.
But Lynch says it's no laughing matter. She says it's a hate crime against her religion
"Look at Louisiana, it's the same thing, what if a black family burned crosses, or nooses it would be the same thing, " says Lynch.
And if the owner still doesn't take the Witch down from its noose by Halloween, Lynch plans to protest outside his home.
She says it's not only a hate crime against her religion, but offensive to the entire community.
"It's depicting death. I wouldn't destroy a cross or bash a religion or race,so I don't expect that to happen to me, " adds Lynch.
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