Detroit Holds Parade to Rid City of Evil Spirit

A person dressed as the "red dwarf" appears at the pre-march gathering to taunt all of those gathered at the Marche du Nain Rouge in the Cass Corridor in Detroit, on Sunday, March 25, 2012. More than 3,000 people turned out for ther third annual parade intended to rid Detroit of a spell cast by a red dwarf who was struck by a cane by a famous pioneer centuries ago, Antoine Cadillac. Or so the story goes. Photo: The Detroit News, Robin Buckson / AP
A person dressed as the "red dwarf" appears at the pre-march gathering to taunt all of those gathered at the Marche du Nain Rouge in the Cass Corridor in Detroit, on Sunday, March 25, 2012. More than 3,000 people turned out for ther third annual parade intended to rid Detroit of a spell cast by a red dwarf who was struck by a cane by a famous pioneer centuries ago, Antoine Cadillac. Or so the story goes. (The Detroit News, Robin Buckson / AP)



Associated Press

Some 3,000 people in masks, feathers and beads turned out Sunday for a third annual light-hearted parade to rid Detroit of that devil and his cruel intentions. People who thought force might be necessary carried pitchforks. Shari Lombardo of Grosse Pointe dressed her dog in a tutu.

"I read on the (event) website that anything goes; that's obviously true," Lombardo told The Detroit News (http://bit.ly/GPAfoH). "Anything that's new and different is good for the city."

The tale goes that a red dwarf cast a spell on Detroit 300 years ago after being struck with a cane by one of the city's founders, Antoine Cadillac. A man dressed as the feared dwarf taunted spectators by declaring, "I own this town."

"Do you think this silly parade is going to get rid of me?" he said before being lowered to a stage from a crane.

Detroit lately has been taking its lumps. City and state officials are trying to strike a deal to manage Detroit's poor finances. Mayor Dave Bing is recovering from surgery on a perforated intestine. He was hospitalized Thursday — just three days before the parade.

Organizer Peter Van Dyke said plans already are in the works for future events. "We plan to keep this going for a very long time," he said.

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