British Petroleum’s sponsorship of Hammond’s 2026 Festival of the Lakes was short-lived after a wave of public criticism prompted Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. to order the sponsorship canceled and refunded.

The controversy erupted after the Festival of the Lakes Facebook page thanked BP for sponsoring this year’s event. The post quickly drew criticism from residents and members of United Steelworkers Local 7-1, who pointed out that BP has been engaged in a months-long labor dispute involving locked-out workers at the Whiting Refinery.

Mayor McDermott later said he was unaware his staff had accepted BP’s sponsorship for this year’s festival. After learning of the post, he directed city staff to immediately refund BP’s sponsorship, remove the company as a festival sponsor, and delete all related promotional posts.

In a public statement, McDermott apologized to the members of USW Local 7-1 and their families, saying the sponsorship “sent the wrong message.” He reaffirmed his support for the locked-out workers, stating they deserve a fair contract and the opportunity to return to work with dignity.

United Steelworkers Local 7-1 praised the mayor’s swift response, thanking him for standing with union members throughout the lockout. Union officials said McDermott personally reached out to apologize for the mistake and called his actions an example of leadership.

The union also thanked community members who have continued to show support during the ongoing labor dispute, saying the response over the holiday weekend demonstrated where the community stands in the conflict with BP. We at Region News fully stands with the locked out workers due to safety concerns and the families that live among us all.