Latin Music Fest Crowd Did Not Like Home Depot's Promotional Wall Of Tiles
By Kayla Martinez | July 11, 2017 7:48am
CHICAGO — A Home Depot promotion for bathroom tile ended up sparking a protest over President Donald Trump's proposed border wall at a Latin alternative music festival over the weekend.
The Home Depot was one of several sponsors of the annual Ruido Fest, which kicked off Friday in Addams/Medill Park, 1301 W. 14th St.
As part of its sponsorship, the hardware store chain assembled a wall that was supposed to show festival attendees how easy it is to tile bathrooms and backsplashes in your home, a spokesman said.
The large wall at a festival geared toward Latinos, however, struck a nerve with some attendees, who took it as a nod to Trump's plan for a wall along the border with Mexico, which the Home Depot spokesman called an "unfortunate misunderstanding."
Videos on Facebook showed attendees chanting, "We don't want it" and demanding the wall come down.
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Vicko Alvarez Vega, a witness who filmed the chaos, said the "tone deaf" wall was eventually taken down by festival staffers. Vega also criticized Home Depot for its co-founder's support of Trump.
"That a company who sells building materials could not be a little more creative with the activity is ridiculous," Vega said.
Ruido Fest — which means Noise Fest in English — is co-organized by event production companies Riot Fest Presents, Metronome and Star Events and radio program Rock Sin Anestesia.
Organizers did not return calls or emails for comment.
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