Reports of Mardi Gras Indians arrested untrue

TO THE EDITOR:

In response to a Friday night online article regarding the marchers arrested on Franklin Street I wanted to be sure both the University and town community were aware that the report of the arrested marchers being members of the Mardi Gras Indians who visited campus on Friday was not true.

Though they led an approved musical procession through the Quad earlier in the afternoon they were having dinner with a group of students at the time of the reported incident.

I really appreciate the Daily Tar Heel's swiftness in removing the article from the internet; however I did want to be certain that anyone who had read the article was not left with false impressions of the Mardi Gras Indians. Indeed anyone who spent time with them or attended their lecture earlier in the day would agree that they brought a message celebrating unity and community.

It was CUAB's honor to host them and we want to thank them for so generously sharing their stories and their culture with us.



Tom Allin
Senior
American Studies