Like Halloween display too real for town

Instead of ghosts or witches in their front yard, one Parma, Ohio, family opted for a more graphic display – that included life-like dummies who had been impaled, stabbed in the throat, bound in plastic wrap, and even crucified upside-down.

WOIO in Cleveland reports that the display, which is across the street from an elementary school in the town of Parma, Ohio, features a “body” tied up in a cocoon suspended from a tree.

The little girl says she was frightened by the display less than a block from Dentzler Elementary School she attends in Parma. Jackie Anselmo was so troubled by it that she took a picture and emailed the city to try to get the display taken down. She said her children haven’t had any problems with the display.

City officials say the display is not breaking any laws, and is considered protected under “freedom of expression”. “Nearly horrified that somebody would think that it’s OK to put it that close to an elementary school”.

“We don’t want to scare kids, we just want to do the Halloween fun of it, and you know, but definitely no ill intent, no”, said homeowner Vicki Barett.

Parent Julie Austin is on Barrett’s side; she said that her child knows make-believe from real, and isn’t afraid of the display. “We don’t want to scare kids”, Barrett said.

Neighbors say if they don’t take it down, they should at least tone it down. Barrett says she has no interest in taking down her Halloween display. She said it’s the parents job to tell their kids it’s fake.