Huntington: Officials condemn KKK Halloween ride

Huntington Mayor Richard Strick, county commissioners, and State Senator Nick McKinley issued formal statements condemning a Halloween incident in which a couple rode through city streets in Ku Klux Klan attire. The event occurred on Saturday, October 31, in residential areas where families were trick-or-treating. Photographs and videos of the ride circulated on social media over the weekend, prompting the official responses.

Rob Miller, President of the Huntington County Commissioners, addressed 21Alive News to explain the local reaction. Miller stated that the community cannot disregard the event as a simple 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 American history involving racism and violence. Miller described it as unconscionable for someone to believe such a display was acceptable.

The woman in the images, who declined an on-camera interview, communicated with 21Alive News via Facebook messages on Monday. In a prior post to a local community group, she described the scene as one ghost, two ghost horses, and a regular ghost. She apologized to children who may have been offended by photos taken with the couple. When pressed on whether the explanation minimized the historical weight of the Klan, she defended the choice. "I think there’s not much wrong with it being a costume on Halloween," she said. She added that while she understood the offense, it did not give others the right to attack the couple.

The woman stated that the costumes were worn for approximately 30 minutes. She argued that the situation was blown out of proportion, claiming the couple was not trying to send a message. She told 21Alive News that the backlash has escalated into targeted threats against her family and animals, including death threats and threats to steal horses. "We are not Klan members, and we are not racists," she wrote. She also requested that news outlets address the doxing and defamation occurring online.

Roderick Parker, founder of Big Hearts Community Projects, said the display was shocking and hurtful. Parker, whose daughter grew up in Huntington, stated that the costumes represent racism and hatred. He argued that reacting solely with hostility will not solve the underlying issues. "If you move and react and respond with anger, you know, the only thing that you find is more anger," Parker said. He proposed an open invitation for the couple to sit face-to-face with him and other local leaders to discuss the incident and bridge gaps in the community.

When 21Alive News asked the woman on Monday if she and her boyfriend would consider meeting with Parker, she expressed willingness to look at the option. "It would have to be something me and him discuss but a possibility," she said. The couple has not confirmed a date or time for the proposed meeting.