Freeport residents call for controversial political display to be taken down

FREEPORT, Ill. (WIFR) - A political display outside a Freeport home causes a stir with some neighbors calling the decorations "racist" while the owners say it's free speech.

The display stands at the corner of Park Boulevard and Empire Street, depicting President Joe Biden in a coffin, Vice President Kamala Harris wearing a straitjacket chained to a tree and former President Donald Trump riding a white skeletal horse.

The effigies were created by homeowners Thomas Nadycz and Patty Tricker who say they are proud to wear their political opinions on their proverbial sleeves.

The couple explains Biden in the coffin represents the death of the Democratic Party following the election, while Harris in the straitjacket demonstrates their belief that she is crazy.

"Patriotism is what I'm siding with and that's the premise behind the politics of our Halloween," Nadycz says.

But patriotism is not what several community members see. One of the handful of protesters told WIFR the depiction of Harris chained to the tree represents slavery. Others chime in, calling out what they see as racist rhetoric and division as "evil" and "sick."

But Tricker argues the message is being misconstrued. She says it is not racist; it is their political opinion.

"There are all these things going on that is ruining our country and that's what this is about," Tricker says. "It has nothing to do with black and white.

The former NAACP of Freeport vice chair Windy Pearson disagrees. She joined a handful of protesters in front of the home Monday morning and encouraged more to join their call to action. She says while she can't make them take it down, applying pressure from the community might do the trick.

"This is something that should not be happening in this town. It is not something that the town deserves," Pearson says. "It is not something that any of us that believe in justice, that believe in our democracy, that believes in the constitution and the rules of law should put up with," Pearson said.

Freeport police came by the residence to suggest the couple take the display down, but they refused. Nadycz believes taking it down now would mean surrendering at the final hour.

"If the end of what I say doesn't convince them to change their vote, then I'm wrong and I'll say that I'm wrong and hopefully one of them will be able to delve into my brain and say 'no this is the mistake that you're making,'" Nadycz said.

The city of Freeport is not taking a stance on this issue. There are no ordinances that require the couple to take down their display.