DeQuincy, LA — Is the dress Blue or gold? Everyone is talking about it, but one city in Louisiana has had enough talk. The town of DeQuincy has officially BANNED all discussion related to the controversial dress, implementing a fine for first offenses and jail time for repeat offenders.
The Mayor of DeQuincy, Tom Downey, spoke to CNN about the ban the city is placing on discussing the the color of the dress.
“We already have a huge problem in this town with residents not going to work, and now, because of this gosh dang dress, they really haven’t been going to work,” said Downey. “They either stay at home or go to the bar and just look at pictures of these dresses and debate what color it is. Loud arguments and fights break out; It’s all a bunch of hogwash I tell ya!” Downey continued, “Talking about this dress is a waste of time and it’s effecting our economy here in this town, so finally I had to put my foot down, and now it’s illegal.”
36-year-old DeQuincy resident, Paul Horner, told reporters the color of the dress is ruining his life.
“I haven’t gone to work for 5 days now. I can’t sleep, I can’t eat, I need to know what color that dress is,” Horner said. “I just keep looking at the dress, it’s blue and black obviously, at least I think, but all my friends were like no, it’s blue and gold. So now I’m super confused, and my brain just hurts. I need know what color that damn dress is.”
Maynard Jenkins, who is the sheriff of the town, told local DeQuincy news channel DQLA6 about the penalties for those caught discussing the color of the dress.
“First time offenders will receive fines ranging anywhere between $50 and $500 depending on the severity of the conversation they are having about the color dress. Repeat offenders will receive a mandatory 30 days in the county jail.” Jenkins said. “We are not taking this matter lightly. There ain’t gonna be no more talking about the color of the dress in DeQuincy, not no more.”
26-year-old DeQuincy resident Brandon Adams told reporters he does not agree with the new law.
“There is nothing to do in this town, seriously. Talking about the color of the dress is all we had left and now they’re taking that away from us,” Adams said. “I don’t see what the big deal is. At least we weren’t out causing trouble, sniffing glue and breaking stuff. I guess we’ll now have to go back to doing that.”
The debate about the color of the dress started with a picture of the outfit being posted on social media over the question of its color. The argument that ensued went viral and was soon taken up by the media.
The town of DeQuincy had a population of 3,398 as of the 2000 census. DeQuincy is part of the Lake Charles Metropolitan Statistical Area. So far state officials in Louisiana have yet to make a formal statement concerning the ban on discussing the color of the dress in DeQuincy.