Leroy the Redneck Reindeer leads Louisiana’s annual Redneck Christmas Parade featuring Grinch on a motorized La-Z-Boy, a monster VW and signs saying ‘kiss ur cuzin’ and ‘crack is wak’ – but struggling locals say there isn’t much to cheer about
Leroy the Redneck Reindeer, along with monster trucks and motorized scooters, led the annual Redneck Christmas Parade in Louisiana, where protesters threw toilet paper and ramen noodles at the crowd.
Photos and videos captured quirky scenes, including a deer head with a red nose, the Grinch on a motorized La-Z-Boy and signs with messages like “kiss ur cuzin” and “crack is wak.”
Despite the holiday atmosphere, local residents noted the challenging reality in Bawcomville, where a third of residents live below the poverty line and struggle to find shelter and feed themselves amid economic hardship.
“We'd rather be in the woods, in the country – kick back on the porch, campfire, cold beer,” Bryan Barker said CNNwhich explains what “redneck” means to him.
“We have Leroy the Redneck Reindeer. You can't get more redneck than that,” he said, pointing to the deer with a red nose on its tracker.
Leroy the Redneck Reindeer (pictured) led the annual Redneck Christmas Parade in Louisiana along with monster trucks and motorized scooters, where protesters threw toilet paper and ramen noodles at the crowd
A line of monster trucks paraded through the streets of West Monroe, Louisiana last week as part of the annual Bawcomville Redneck Christmas Parade
Despite the holiday atmosphere, local residents noted the challenging reality in Bawcomville, where a third of residents live below the poverty line and struggle to find shelter and feed themselves amid economic hardship.
Photos and videos captured quirky scenes, including a deer head with a red nose, the Grinch on a motorized La-Z-Boy and signs with humorous messages like “kiss ur cuzin” and “crack is wak.”
A line of monster trucks paraded through the streets of West Monroe, Louisiana last week as part of the annual Bawcomville Redneck Christmas Parade.
Meanwhile, a grim reality unfolded behind the cheering crowds as the route passed people living in mobile homes, abandoned shops and tents.
“People don't realize this is kind of a third world country,” Rachel Holmes said. She was with Debi Mayo at the parade for Bawcomville Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides food to those in need.
'It's a terrible situation we find ourselves in. Even people with jobs are suffering at the cost of the economy,” Mayo said.
The pair said economic struggles have forced some homeless people in the area to stay “in the woods and in makeshift tents.”
A grim reality behind the cheering crowds unfolded as the route passed people living in mobile homes, abandoned shops and tents.
Other key elements in the parade include empty beer cans, leaf blowers, garbage trucks, buses and tractors
Protesters at the Redneck Parade threw toilet paper and ramen noodles at the crowd
The crowds enjoying redneck-themed floats also face a harsh reality: More than 30 percent of Bawcomville residents live below the poverty line, according to data from DATA USA
In the marching crowd was Shane Wooten, a real estate agent dressed as the Grinch in a motorized La-Z-Boy
“It's just not your typical Christmas parade. It's something to laugh about,” he said as the parade was about to start from the Riser Elementary School parking lot.
Other important elements in the parade include empty beer cans, leaf blowers, garbage trucks and tractors.
The crowds enjoying redneck-themed floats also face a harsh reality: More than 30 percent of Bawcomville residents live below the poverty line, according to data from DATA US.
When asked about the numbers showing an improvement in the U.S. economy, residents responded, “That's a big fat lie.”
Toni Boler, a parade spectator, said: “Just look at our wallets… Whatever the little people might have saved from the incentives we got – that's all gone.
“People now live on credit, if they have it at all,” she said, adding that her property taxes, property insurance and utility bills had become more expensive.
“I don't understand how these families that come to this redneck parade – this community – can't even buy groceries.”
When asked about the numbers showing an improvement in the US economy, residents responded: 'That's a big fat lie'
Toni Boler, a parade spectator, said: 'Just look at our wallets… Whatever the little people might have saved from the incentives we were given – that's all gone
“People now live on credit, if they have it at all,” she said, adding that her property taxes, property insurance and utility bills had become more expensive,” Boler said.
Boler said she is working with the Louisiana Department of Health to find a way for people with serious mental illness to get out of nursing homes.
“But we've actually hit a roadblock because there's no place for people with mental illness to go… There's no housing for people.”
“I think a lot of the population is getting lost – that the government is more concerned about things they don't have to worry about, rather than what's really going on with people trying to work here.” , she said. .
Locals are pinning their hopes on former President Donald Trump to save them from economic problems.
'We hope that Trump will come back into that. Maybe he can make things right… Because it wasn't in this turmoil when he left. All this has been achieved in the past three years.' Mayo said.
Residents said President Joe Biden has no idea how to combat the economic crisis
Locals are pinning their hopes on former President Donald Trump to save them from economic problems
'We're counting on him,' Jane Temple said, adding that she couldn't wait for the 2024 election for Trump
“We're counting on him,” Jane Temple said, adding that she couldn't wait for the 2024 election for Trump.
“I think he cares. I could be wrong, but I think he does. For the most part, despite everything that was going on, he accomplished a lot.”
She added that Trump is not perfect, but she said President Joe Biden has no idea how to combat the economic crisis.
The convenience store's owner, William Thompson, said he had seen many people in the area struggling with meth and fentanyl.
“I blame Biden for that too,” he said.
'If [Trump] is in jail, I would vote for him,” Thompson added. “Because to my knowledge he is the only president who gives back to the people and helps the people.”