Indiana trio calls KKK horseback ride a ghostly joke after backlash
A couple on horseback in Klan robes sparked formal statements from local leaders and a public invitation for face-to-face dialogue.
By Andrew Kovalenko ·
Photos of a man and woman riding through Huntington, Indiana, in Ku Klux Klan costumes on Saturday night have drawn sharp criticism from city, county, and state officials. The pair rode through residential neighborhoods while families with children were trick-or-treating, a detail that intensified the local reaction to the visual spectacle.
Huntington Mayor Richard Strick was among the first to issue a formal condemnation. The Huntington County Commissioners followed with a joint statement on Sunday rejecting the behavior. State Senator Nick McKinley, who represents Senate District 17, also released a statement criticizing the incident.
County Commissioner President Rob Miller told 21Alive News that the event should not be dismissed as a lighthearted joke. "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 American history involving racism and violence, calling it unconscionable for anyone to consider the display acceptable.
The woman involved in the ride responded to the backlash via Facebook messages on Monday. She previously posted to a local community group describing the outfit as one ghost from the KKK, two ghost horses, and a regular ghost. She apologized to children who may have been offended by photos taken with them.
When asked about claims that her explanation minimized the historical weight of the Klan, the woman defended the choice of costume. "I think there’s not much wrong with it being a costume on Halloween. Lots of Halloween costumes are controversial," she said. She acknowledged that some were offended but argued that did not give others the right to attack her family.
The rider stated that she and her boyfriend are not Klan members and do not consider themselves racists. She said they wore the costumes for approximately 30 minutes and felt the situation was blown out of proportion. She claimed the couple was not trying to send a specific message and that they did not physically harm anyone.
The woman alleged that the online backlash has escalated into targeted harassment. She cited doxing, defamation of character, 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 many people are threatening families and children, including specific threats to steal horses.
Roderick Parker, founder of Big Hearts Community Projects, said the community must convert the anger into an opportunity for education. Parker, whose daughter grew up in Huntington, described the display as shocking and hurtful. "It represents racism. It represents hatred of humanity," Parker told 21Alive News. He said seeing the costumes sparks fear and outrage.
Parker argued that reacting solely with hostility creates more anger. He wants to offer education and a new thought process to create unity. He extended an open invitation for the woman and her boyfriend to sit down at a table with him and other local leaders for an open discussion to bridge gaps and educate the community.
When asked on Monday if she would consider meeting with Parker, the woman said it would require discussion between her and her boyfriend. "It would have to be something me and him discuss but a possibility," she said.
