Hundreds gathered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday (October 29) for a rally and town hall to denounce alleged Ku Klux Klan literature distributed during a local Halloween parade. The "No Hate in Our State" event, organized by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) and local community leaders, aimed to address the distribution of cards promoting the "Women for the Ku Klux Klan" to children.
The rally began at 6:30 p.m. on Railroad Avenue and was followed by a town hall at Buhrig Gathering Place. Reverend Kathryn Z. Johnston, Senior Pastor of Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church, emphasized the importance of unity and compassion in the face of hate. "When hate shows up on our streets, our response must be unity, compassion, and the reaffirmation of our shared humanity," she stated.
Despite the absence of official reports to police or local authorities, the incident sparked outrage in the community. Community leaders, including Johnston, organized the event to demonstrate a collective stand against hate. "A lot of times, these hate organizations do spread out these materials to see if there will be any pushback," Johnston explained. "I immediately reached out to my colleagues and said, hey, we need to do something."
The event featured speeches from various community leaders, including Mechanicsburg Borough Council members and school district officials. The PHRC's Civil Rights Outreach Director, Sheryl Meck, moderated the town hall, which provided an open forum for dialogue and collective action against hate.
The Women of the Ku Klux Klan issued a statement in response to the event, maintaining their commitment to their beliefs and values. However, the Borough of Mechanicsburg denounced the distribution of hate-based literature, stating it stands in direct opposition to the community's values.
The "No Hate in Our State" initiative is part of the PHRC's ongoing efforts to combat bias and discrimination across Pennsylvania. The commission encourages residents to report any acts of discrimination or hate to promote a more inclusive community.