Huntington Halloween: Couple rides in KKK costumes, officials condemn display

A couple riding through Huntington, Indiana, streets in Ku Klux Klan costumes on Saturday has drawn formal condemnation from city, county, and state leaders. Photographs and videos of the pair circulated online while children trick-or-treated in nearby residential neighborhoods. The incident triggered a wave of social media reactions over the weekend, prompting official responses from local government officials.

Huntington Mayor Richard Strick released a statement among the first to address the event. The Huntington County Commissioners followed with a joint statement on Sunday. Commissioner President Rob Miller spoke with 21Alive News to clarify the county's position. “I think it’s something that we can’t disregard as just a Halloween prank,” Miller said. He argued that the costumes reenacted a dark chapter in national history involving racism and violence. “I think it is unconscionable that somebody would think that that was OK,” Miller added. State Senator Nick McKinley, who represents the district including Huntington, Grant, and Wabash counties, also issued a statement condemning the behavior.

The woman pictured on horseback declined an on-camera interview but sent a series of Facebook messages to 21Alive News on Monday. She had earlier posted to a local community group describing the ride as featuring one ghost from the KKK, two ghost horses, and one regular ghost. She apologized to parents whose children posed with the pair. When asked if the costumes minimized the history of the organization, she defended the choice. “I think there’s not much wrong with it being a costume on Halloween. Lots of Halloween costumes are controversial,” she wrote. She stated that while she understood the offense taken, she believed it did not give others the right to attack the couple. “We are not Klan members, and we are not racists. We did nothing to physically harm anyone,” she said.

The woman told reporters the costumes were worn for approximately 30 minutes. She described the subsequent media coverage as an overreaction, claiming the couple was not trying to send a message. She alleged that the backlash has escalated into targeted harassment, including doxing, defamation, and threats against 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. She noted that threats include death threats and attempts to steal horses.

Roderick Parker, founder of Big Hearts Community Projects, called the display shocking and hurtful. His daughter attended school in Huntington. “It represents racism. It represents hatred of humanity,” Parker told 21Alive News. He noted that the image sparked immediate fear and outrage. Parker argued that reacting with anger alone would not solve the underlying issues. “Having a feeling or the emotion of anger is one thing, but if you move and react and respond with anger, you know, the only thing that you find is more anger,” he said. He proposed using the moment for education and unity.

Parker extended a specific invitation for the woman and her boyfriend to sit down at a table with him and other local leaders. “I would love for you guys to come sit down at a table with myself and a couple of the leaders in the community, so that we can have an open discussion,” Parker said. He hoped the meeting would allow the group to bridge gaps and create change. When asked on Monday if the couple would be open to such a meeting, the woman said it was a possibility. “It would have to be something me and him discuss but a possibility,” she replied.

The couple has not yet confirmed a date or location for the proposed meeting. Officials have not announced additional steps beyond their initial statements. The woman continues to monitor her social media accounts for new messages from community members.