By Casey Harper
The Oakland Police Department has apologized for issuing a drunk driving warning for Cinco de Mayo, all because some complained it wasn’t politically correct.
The police department issued a “Fiesta Time or Jail Times” warning about drunk driving for those celebrating Cinco de Mayo, which commemorates a key battle in Mexico’s fight for independence. Police informed residents they would be stepping up enforcement for drunk driving because of the holiday, but after complaints the department apologized and even reneged their plan to have DUI traffic patrols, The Mercury News reports.
“In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has become synonymous with festive fiestas and salty margaritas,” the police statement said. “Historically, the fifth of May commemorates Mexico’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War, but present-day celebrations often lead to drunk driving—and there’s no victory in that.”
The police department went on to warn about the dangers of drunk driving and included statistics about accidents. The reference to Cinco de Mayo was apparently terribly offensive to some, because the department has since apologized:
The Oakland Police Department would like to apologize for the recent press release addressing traffic safety enforcement during the Cinco de Mayo holiday. We acknowledge that the language in the message sent was completely insensitive to the cultural holiday. We have worked extensively to build trust with all our communities and value the amazing cultures that make up the heart of our City. We are taking appropriate steps to insure that this does not happen again. Our intentions were to raise awareness about drunk driving and notify the community of traffic safety during the important holiday. As for every holiday and celebration, we want to remind everyone to celebrate responsibly and safely.
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