KKK man shows up to council in wig and dress

Kapiti Observer

NOT WELCOME: Dale Evans, in purple wig, and his Santas are ejected from the council chamber.

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Just six months after upsetting Kapiti councillors by dressing in a Ku Klux Klan outfit, community board member Dale Evans has struck again.

He appeared at a Kapiti Coast District Council meeting in a purple wig and women's clothing, with seven Santas in tow, and was ejected from the chamber yesterday by police prompting one councillor to compare the council to a three-ring circus.

Mr Evans had hoped to speak to the council about the bore water problem, but was confronted by mayor Jenny Rowan before he even entered the chamber. She told him not to disrupt the meeting.

Ms Rowan opened the meeting by saying that, if anyone was dressed disrespectfully, they should leave. Mr Evans and his Santas refused to budge and the mayor adjourned the meeting. Some councillors left the chamber and police were called. Councillor Lyndy McIntyre objected, saying: "We have community members here, let's hear them out and get on with the meeting. I certainly do not want the police involved, that is a complete over-reaction, a human rights issue. And it is Christmas."

Councillor Tony Jack said: "We do our best to do our job, but council is portrayed as a three-ring circus. No one asked me if I wanted to hear what he had to say."

Mr Evans said every individual, regardless of how they were dressed, had a right to speak. He and a group in Santa suits had spoken to the council once before to highlight another community matter. In June he drew worldwide attention when he spoke to the council wearing a KKK costume to bemoan the rise of hooded sweatshirts.

When two police officers entered the room yesterday and advised Mr Evans to leave, he and the Santas mostly aged between 14 and 16 walked out.

Council chief executive Pat Dougherty said the ejection was justified. "Asking police to eject a group dressed in Santa suits and women's clothes was totally justified following the earlier Ku Klux Klan incident from the same person. They were asked to leave under standing orders."

Ms Rowan said whatever message Mr Evans and his group wished to deliver should have been done in a respectful manner.

Mr Evans said he was taking up the matter with the Human Rights Commission. "I should be able to dress in what I want to ... If former policeman Dr Rob Moodie can dress in a frock, why can't I? My dress was not inappropriate, the council totally over-reacted and denied me my freedom of speech."

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