The Red Cross has removed pool safety posters in Salida, Colorado that some critics say are racist.
The poster art was originally designed as part of the Red Cross' 2014 "Aquatics Centennial Campaign." But despite being up for two years, critics just now began slamming the poster as "racist," taking to Twitter last week to voice their issues.
At the first hint of controversy, the Red Cross responded by recalling the poster,
They also appologized on their website:
"We deeply apologize for any misunderstanding, as it was absolutely not our intent to offend anyone. As one of the nation's oldest and largest humanitarian organizations, we are committed to diversity and inclusion in all that we do, every day,"
However, the poster had already garnered viral attention, causing an ongoing Twitter firestorm. Some voiced harsh criticism of the poster and the Red Cross itself:
Others noted that the poster doesn't seem racist at all, as a lifeguard depicted in the poster is black, and the poster depicts white children misbehaving as well.
Honestly, I’m just surprised people scrutinized the poster at all. It seems like such a miniscule detail to notice, let alone complain about.