Huntington, Ind. officials criticize KKK Halloween costume display

Public officials in Huntington, Indiana, issued formal statements on Sunday and Monday criticizing a couple who rode through residential streets in Ku Klux Klan costumes during Halloween.

Photographs and video recordings of the two individuals on horseback circulated widely on social media platforms on Saturday. The incident occurred while families and children were trick-or-treating in local neighborhoods. Mayor Richard Strick released a statement condemning the behavior shortly after the images gained traction online.

Huntington County Commissioners followed with a joint statement on Sunday. Rob Miller, the county commissioner president, spoke with 21Alive News regarding the community's reaction. "I think it’s something that we can’t disregard as just a Halloween prank," Miller said. He added that the display reenacted a dark chapter in national history involving racism and violence, calling it unconscionable.

State Senator Nick McKinley, who represents Senate District 17, also issued a statement addressing the incident. The district includes Huntington, Grant, and Wabash counties.

The woman involved in the ride communicated with 21Alive News via Facebook messages on Monday. She previously posted to a local community group describing the outfit as one ghost from the KKK, two ghost horses, and one regular ghost. She apologized to children who took photos with them and expressed confusion over the level of offense taken by some residents.

When asked about the criticism that her explanation minimized the history of the Klan, she defended the choice of costume. "I think there’s not much wrong with it being a costume on Halloween," she wrote. She noted that many Halloween costumes are controversial and that she understood the offense taken but felt this did not justify attacking the couple. She stated that neither she nor her boyfriend are members of the Klan or racists, and that they caused no physical harm.

The woman said the costumes were worn for approximately 30 minutes and described the public reaction as an overblown attempt to interpret a message that was not intended. She reported receiving doxing, death threats, and threats to steal horses from community members. Roderick Parker, founder of Big Hearts Community Projects, offered an invitation for the couple to meet face-to-face with local leaders for an open discussion. He aimed to use the moment for education and unity rather than continued anger. The woman told 21Alive News that she and her boyfriend would consider the proposal.