This cartoon image provided by the New York Post appeared in the Post's Page Six Wednesday, February 18, 2009. The cartoon, which refers to Travis the chimp, who was shot to death by police in Stamford, Conn. on Monday after it mauled a friend of its owner, drew criticism Wednesday on media Web sites and from civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton. [Agencies]
A New York Post cartoon that some have interpreted as comparing US President Barack Obama to a violent chimpanzee gunned down by police drew outrage Wednesday from civil rights leaders and elected officials who said it echoed racist stereotypes of blacks as monkeys.
The cartoon in Wednesday's Post by Sean Delonas shows two police officers, one with a smoking gun, standing over the body of a bullet-riddled chimp. And the other says: "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill."
The cartoon refers to a chimpanzee named Travis who was killed Monday by police in Stamford, Conn., after it mauled a friend of its owner.
Obama signed his administration's economic stimulus plan on Tuesday.
Some critics called the cartoon racist and said it trivialized a tragedy in which a woman was disfigured and a chimpanzee killed. Others said the cartoon suggests that Obama should be assassinated. Many urged a boycott of the Post and the companies that advertise in it.
"How could the Post let this cartoon pass as satire?" said Barbara Ciara, president of the National Association of Black Journalists. "To compare the nation's first African-American commander in chief to a dead chimpanzee is nothing short of racist drivel."
The cartoon set off a furious response against the Post. Its phones rang all day with angry callers. Protesters picketed the tabloid's Manhattan offices, demanding an apology and chanting "shut the Post down."
Col Allan, editor-in-chief of the Post, defended the work.
"The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut," Allan said in a statement. "It broadly mocks Washington's efforts to revive the economy."
《紐約郵報》日前刊登了一幅警察用槍擊斃一隻狂暴的黑猩猩的漫畫，這幅被一些人認為是暗諷總統歐巴馬的漫畫於本周三招致民權領袖和當選官員的抗議，他們稱這幅畫與種族主義者誣衊黑人是猴子如出一轍。
這幅刊登在本周三《紐約郵報》上的漫畫為西恩•德洛納所作，漫畫中，兩名警察站在一隻全身布滿子彈的黑猩猩面前，其中一人正舉著一支冒著煙的槍，另一人則說：「看來他們不得不另找人來制定下一份經濟刺激方案了。」
這幅漫畫借用了本周一發生在康乃狄克州斯坦福的黑猩猩傷人被擊斃事件，一隻名叫Travis的黑猩猩因襲擊主人的朋友而被警察擊斃。
巧合的是，此後的一天，歐巴馬就籤署了經濟刺激方案。
一些批評人士認為這幅漫畫帶有種族歧視意味，並稱其藐視這場令一位女士毀容、一隻黑猩猩喪命的悲劇；另有一些人認為這幅畫是在暗示歐巴馬應該被暗殺。這件事發生後，很多人呼籲抵制《紐約郵報》以及在該報上做廣告的公司。
全美黑人新聞工作者協會(National Association of Black Journalists)會長芭芭拉•西亞拉說：「《郵報》怎麼能登這樣的漫畫來針砭時弊？將美國首位非洲裔總統比作一隻死去的黑猩猩帶有明顯的種族主義色彩。」
這幅漫畫引發了公眾對《郵報》的強烈抗議和譴責，很多人打來電話表達憤怒。抗議者們聚集在該報的曼哈頓辦事處，要求報紙道歉，並高喊「郵報關門」。
《紐約郵報》主編科爾•阿蘭為這幅漫畫進行了辯解。
他在一份聲明中說：「這幅作品顯然是在借用時事針砭時弊，即借康乃狄克州的黑猩猩傷人被擊斃一事來諷刺政府的振興經濟計劃。」
（英語點津姍姍編輯）