Huntington Halloween: Couple defends KKK costumes amid official condemnation

Huntington, Indiana, residents encountered a scene on Saturday that quickly became a local flashpoint. A couple rode through residential streets on Halloween wearing Ku Klux Klan costumes, a choice that drew sharp criticism from city and state officials as trick-or-treating families walked the same blocks.

Huntington Mayor Richard Strick issued a formal statement condemning the behavior. The Huntington County Commissioners followed suit on Sunday with a joint statement. State Senator Nick McKinley, who represents the district including Huntington, Grant, and Wabash counties, also released a statement criticizing the display. Commissioner President Rob Miller told 21Alive News that the community cannot treat the incident as a harmless joke. Miller said, “I think it’s something that we can’t disregard as just a Halloween prank.” He added that reenacting the racism and violence of the nation's history in costume was unconscionable.

The woman on horseback has not given an on-camera interview. She communicated with 21Alive News via Facebook messages on Monday. In a post to a local group, she described the outfit as one ghost off the KKK, two ghost horses, and one regular ghost. She apologized to children who may have been offended by photos taken with the pair. When asked if the explanation minimized the history of the Klan, she defended the choice as a standard Halloween costume. She stated, “I think there’s not much wrong with it being a costume on Halloween. Lots of Halloween costumes are controversial.”

The woman said the ride lasted about 30 minutes and that the couple was not trying to send a message. She noted they are not Klan members and did not physically harm anyone. However, she claims the online reaction has escalated into targeted harassment. She wrote that the news should address the doxing, death threats, and claims that people are threatening to steal her horses. She argued that while some were offended, the group did not attack anyone.

Roderick Parker, founder of Big Hearts Community Projects, is proposing a different response. Parker, whose daughter attended school in Huntington, said the costumes represent racism and hatred. He believes reacting with pure anger only creates more anger. Parker wants to sit down face-to-face with the woman and her boyfriend, along with other local leaders, to have an open discussion. He said, “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 the goal is to educate the community and bridge gaps. He wants to understand why people hold certain views and work toward creating change. When 21Alive News asked the woman if she would meet with Parker, she said it was a possibility. She noted that she and her boyfriend would need to discuss the idea first.