Indiana couple rides horses in KKK costumes during Halloween trick-or-treating. Then the woman defends the outfits: ‘Not much wrong with it’

Families in Huntington, Indiana, were out with their children for trick-or-treating on Saturday when a couple appeared on horseback wearing Ku Klux Klan costumes and rode through residential streets, according to Fox Carolina News. Images and video of the pair quickly spread online, prompting widespread discussion among residents over the weekend.

Local officials moved quickly to address the scene. Huntington Mayor Richard Strick issued a statement noting that the costumes were beyond poor taste and that Indiana’s history with the KKK remains a serious and painful chapter. He wrote that the group’s period of activity was a horrible experience both for people of color and minorities and for white Hoosiers who opposed its lies and violence.

County leaders followed with their own response. The Huntington County Commissioners released a joint statement condemning what they called the egregious behavior of those who carried out a racist and inflammatory stunt under the guise of a Halloween prank. “There should be zero tolerance for this conduct in our society,” the commissioners said, according to 21Alive News.

Officials and the rider describe the costumes and the reaction that followed

Commissioners President Rob Miller told 21Alive News that the community cannot treat the ride as nothing more than a Halloween prank. He said he did not know how anyone could come up with the idea without recognizing the dark chapter involved, adding, “I think it is unconscionable that somebody would think that that was OK.”

State Senator Nick McKinley, whose district covers Huntington County, also released a statement. He wrote that racism and hatred have no place in the county, the district, or anywhere in Indiana, and that he was deeply disturbed by the images of people on horseback in Ku Klux Klan attire during Halloween festivities. McKinley described the KKK as representing one of the darkest chapters in American history and said freedom of expression does not mean communities must stay silent about symbols of hatred.

The woman who rode one of the horses declined to appear on camera but answered questions from 21Alive News through Facebook messages on Monday. She had earlier posted in a local community group that the scene involved “1 ghost off the kkk, 2 ghost horses and 1 regular old ghost.” In the same post she apologized to anyone whose children took photos and might have been offended, then wrote, “Everyone was safe, and kids were smiling, thats all that matters. Thank you.”

Asked about community members who felt her explanation downplayed the history of the Klan, she stood by the costumes. “I think there’s not much wrong with it being a costume on Halloween. Lots of Halloween costumes are controversial,” she said. She added, “And yes I do fully understand that some people were offended it just doesn’t give them the right to attack people when we didn’t attack anybody.” Other Halloween costumes sparking racist imagery backlash have drawn similar criticism.

She told the station that she and her boyfriend are not Klan members and are not racists, and that they did nothing to physically harm anyone. She said the costumes were worn for roughly 30 minutes and that the reaction was “blown out of proportion as if we were trying to ‘send a message’ which we were not.” She also claimed the online response has escalated into doxing, threats, defamation of character, and harassment aimed at her family and animals.

“I think the news needs to say something about the doxing, threats, defamation of character, and harassment that is happening,” she wrote. “Including the fact the lots of people are threatening families and children. There are death threats and threats to steal horses.”

Roderick Parker, founder of Big Hearts Community Projects and a parent whose daughter grew up and attended school in Huntington, said the display represented racism and hatred of humanity. He told 21Alive News that seeing it caused immediate concern, sparked fear and outrage, and produced anger and frustration over what the costumes represent.

Parker said he wants the woman and her boyfriend to sit down with him and other local leaders for an open discussion aimed at education and understanding different views. A separate Idaho racist note apology and fallout also prompted public conversation about accountability.