Huntington Halloween: Officials Condemn KKK Costume Ride

Huntington, Indiana, residents faced a weekend of public scrutiny after photographs and videos showed a couple riding through residential streets in Ku Klux Klan costumes on Saturday.

The pair rode through neighborhoods where families and children were trick-or-treating, a detail that intensified the community response. Over the weekend, social media posts amplified the incident, prompting formal written responses from the city, county, and state government levels.

Huntington Mayor Richard Strick issued a statement condemning the behavior. The Huntington County Commissioners followed with a joint statement on Sunday. State Senator Nick McKinley, who represents Senate District 17 covering Huntington, Grant, and Wabash counties, also released a statement criticizing the display.

Commissioner President Rob Miller spoke with 21Alive News on Sunday, arguing that the community should not view the event as a minor holiday joke. Miller stated that the costumes recalled a dark chapter in national history involving racism and violence. “I think it’s something that we can’t disregard as just a Halloween prank,” Miller said. He added that he found it unconscionable that someone would believe such a reenactment was acceptable.

The woman pictured on horseback did not appear on camera for interviews. Instead, she communicated with 21Alive News via Facebook messages on Monday. She had earlier posted in a local community group, describing the group as one ghost from the KKK, two ghost horses, and one regular ghost. She apologized to children who might have been offended after taking photos with them.

In her messages to the news outlet, the woman defended the choice of costume. “I think there’s not much wrong with it being a costume on Halloween,” she wrote. She acknowledged that some residents were offended but argued that this did not grant others the right to attack her family. She stated that neither she nor her boyfriend were Klan members or racists and that they did not physically harm anyone.

The woman said the couple wore the costumes for approximately 30 minutes. She described the public reaction as blown out of proportion, noting that they did not intend to send a specific message. She reported that the backlash has led to doxing, defamation of character, and harassment. She specifically cited death threats and threats to steal her family’s horses.

Roderick Parker, founder of Big Hearts Community Projects, said the display was shocking and hurtful to the community. Parker, whose daughter grew up in Huntington, said the images represent racism and hatred of humanity. He noted that the sight sparked fear, outrage, and frustration.

Parker argued that reacting with pure hostility would not resolve the underlying issues. He sought to shift the dynamic from anger to education and unity. “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,” Parker said.

Parker extended an open invitation for the couple to meet face-to-face with him and other local leaders. He proposed a table discussion to educate and bridge gaps in understanding. “I would love for you guys to come sit down at a table with myself and a couple of the leaders in the community,” Parker said. He said the goal would be to create change by understanding different views.

When asked by 21Alive News on Monday if she and her boyfriend would consider the meeting, the woman said it was a possibility. She noted that she and her partner would need to discuss the offer first.

The couple has not yet confirmed a date for the meeting. Local officials have not announced further actions beyond their initial statements.