Huntington officials condemn KKK Halloween ride after residents say costumes were just a prank

A couple in Ku Klux Klan costumes rode horses through Huntington, Indiana, residential streets on Saturday, drawing sharp criticism from local officials and residents alike. The incident occurred during trick-or-treating hours, and photographs of the pair circulated widely on social media over the weekend, sparking a debate about whether the display was a harmless joke or a jarring reference to local history.

The backlash began immediately after the images surfaced. 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 formal statement criticizing the ride.

Commissioner President Rob Miller told 21Alive News that the community should not dismiss the event as a minor prank. “I think it’s something that we can’t disregard as just a Halloween prank,” Miller said. He noted that the costumes reenacted a dark chapter in the nation’s history involving racism and violence, calling it unconscionable that anyone would view the display as acceptable.

The female rider responded to the criticism via Facebook messages to 21Alive News on Monday. She had earlier posted to a local community group describing the outfit as “1 ghost off the kkk, 2 ghost horses and 1 regular old ghost.” She apologized to children who might have been offended by the costumes. In her messages to the news outlet, she defended the choice of attire, stating that many Halloween costumes are controversial. “We are not Klan members, and we are not racists,” she wrote. She added that the couple wore the costumes for roughly 30 minutes and felt the situation was blown out of proportion.

The rider alleged that the backlash has escalated into targeted harassment. She cited doxing, defamation of character, and threats against her family and animals. “There are death threats and threats to steal horses,” she wrote, asking that the news coverage address these concerns.

Roderick Parker, founder of Big Hearts Community Projects, proposed a different path forward. Parker, whose daughter attended school in Huntington, described the display as shocking and hurtful. He argued that reacting with anger alone would not solve the underlying issues. “It represents racism. It represents hatred of humanity,” Parker said. He suggested that the community use the moment to offer education and create unity rather than just expressing outrage.

Parker extended an open invitation for the couple to sit down face-to-face with him and other local leaders for an open discussion. He wanted to bridge gaps and understand different viewpoints. When asked on Monday if she would be open to meeting with Parker, the rider said it was a possibility that she and her boyfriend would discuss. The couple has not yet confirmed a date for the meeting.

The next scheduled step in the process is for the rider and her partner to consult with each other regarding the invitation. Local leaders have not announced any further formal actions beyond the statements already released. The community remains divided on whether the incident was a minor costume choice or a serious cultural reference.