Anti-Obama posters pop up near schools
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FORT WALTON BEACH — The day following President Barack Obama’s address to school kids brought more presidential controversy.

At bus stops and along school routes, parents and children passed dozens of political posters blatantly placed where they’d be seen by kids.

“I thought it was ridiculous to have to bring hatred like that around our children,” said Nyssa Pearce who saw the signs as she dropped her 7-year-old son off at Kenwood Elementary School.

Pearce said the posters depicting Obama as the “Joker” with the caption “Why so serious?” were plastered up and down Mooney Road and Eagle Street Wednesday morning.

Pearce said she felt that it was no coincidence the posters were stapled to fence rows and utility poles the day after the President addressed school-aged children about the importance of education and goals.

“If you have something to say, say it,” Pearce said. “It doesn’t need to be in a racially disgusting manner and not in front of children.”

Pearce said she was grateful her son was playing with a video game in the back seat and didn’t see the signs.

“I can’t even imagine what black parents who were dropping their children off at school must have thought,” Pearce said of Obama in white-face. “It’s not right.”

Unlike Pearce’s son, many kids were exposed to the anti-Obama posters along Green Acres Boulevard. The sign was posted at least 12 times directly across from the major bus stop on the street.

The residents whose fencelines were used to display the signage were unaware of the posters.

“That’s disgusting, to me, really,” said Marilyn Doran when she learned her fence was being used as a poster holder. “I just don’t like stuff like that.”

Doran added that she wasn’t surprised by the act, though.

“It’s just the times,” Doran said. “And it is getting worse and worse.”