'Why Don't They Like Us?'

A vocal minority is being criticized for insulting special needs children at a local Christmas event.

The students were booed and shown "thumbs down" signals from some attendees at the annual Holiday on the Lake event in Carmel, New York, billed as a family-centric event featuring vendors, food, children's crafts, and milk and cookies with Santa. The December 2 event also included wagon and trolley rides around the hamlet in anticipation of the parade and tree lighting on the shores of Lake Gleneida.

But the parade was soured for some due to a select few who decided to target the kids who are part of the Carmel Central School District (CCSD), a little more than 50 miles outside New York City.

"As we were walking toward St. James, a few of the children noticed cheers and happiness as they gave out bells to the spectators," Marie Camacho, president of the CCSD Special Education Parent Teacher Organization (SEPTO), told the Hudson Valley Post. "Others noticed something quite different. They were met with boos and 'thumbs down' and all they can ask was, 'Why? Why don't they like us? Did I do something wrong?'"

Camacho addressed the situation in a Facebook post on Sunday. The children were dressed as misfit toys as an ode to the celebrated holiday movie Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

"The question at hand is was there booing," Camacho wrote. "And the answer simply is YES. Our group of both special needs children and adults of our community heard booing as we walked by. Quite loudly. No matter who it was addressed to, you booed my group. You booed my special needs child who doesn't understand why she was booed."

Camacho added that she is proud of the students for adopting the "misfits" theme selected by SEPTO, calling it a message exemplifying "that ALL are valuable and together you can accomplish what seems impossible."

"If you have respect for our SEPTO COMMUNITY families and their children, do not boo as our children are walking by. Correct that, MY children. Period," Camacho added. "We walked with the people who accept us, who are our biggest fans, and show up for them to let them know they matter and are included. Always. We are better together.

"People show their ignorance in front of their own children towards special children," one SEPTO supporter commented on Camacho's post. "These kids are SPECIAL in more ways than anyone can expect. Shame on the booing crew, it's not in the Christmas spirit."

Camacho told Newsweek via phone on Thursday that it was "a bunch of women who have a vendetta" against some female members of SEPTO.

"Instead of handling it like adults, they unfortunately chose to boo. Although they say they were not booing at children, our kids do not understand that, unfortunately, and they thought it was towards them," she said, adding that she doesn't want to give them any more attention.

The Hamlet of Carmel Civic Association, which puts on the event, also admonished those who jeered the students.

"We are saddened to hear about the terrible behavior exhibited by a few individuals towards the Carmel Central School District's Special Education marchers in Saturday's Holiday on the Lake parade," the organization posted on Facebook.

"We know that the SEPTO students were very well received and cheered loudly by the reviewing stand and the entire witnessing crowd. The Hamlet of Carmel Civic Association is a non-political group that created this event to be fun for the entire community. We condemn booing or poor behavior of all kinds."

William Shilling, chairman of the Holiday on the Lake committee, told Newsweek via email on Thursday that the 29th annual event was probably the largest to date and that "three or four poorly behaved adults were directing their displeasure at other adults walking with the CCSD/SEPTO."

Camacho told him outside of this incident that the kids managed to have a wonderful time and they have accepted an invitation to lead the parade of floats next year, he added.

"Sadly, these particular adults' inexcusable actions made the marchers think their entire group was being booed," Shilling said. "The statement from the Civic Association stands. We condemn booing or poor behavior of any kind. We witnessed the crowds waving and cheering loudly as the SEPTO marchers passed the stage. We did not witness the booing."

CCSD has not publicly commented to the situation.

Newsweek reached out to the CCSD superintendent and board of education via email for comment.

Just about every response on the various Facebook posts was positive toward SEPTO and the children who were booed.

"Standing by the grandstand with family and friends, I only heard the cheers," wrote one attendee. "But know I and many others appreciate you taking a quick stand to ensure this beautiful event remains a positive, loving, and welcoming community event for many years to come."

"While I'm sure it was literally a few people out of the entire town, it's still very sad," said another. "People need to do better. Probably stupid kids being stupid kids. I want to give all of the kids in the parade a hug. They didn't do anything wrong."

Update 12/07/23, 1:51 p.m. ET: This story was updated with comment from Marie Camacho and William Shilling.

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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