El Paso Police Investigate Viral Group Wearing KKK-Style Robes
Local NAACP leaders and city officials condemned the footage, describing the imagery as a source of deep pain for the Black community.
By Diego Ross ·
El Paso authorities are investigating a group of individuals, potentially including minors, who appeared in online videos wearing white robes and hoods associated with the Ku Klux Klan.
The social media clips, which have circulated widely, show the group walking along a residential street in El Paso, Texas. In one recording, the person filming laughs and urges the subjects to shout, using the Spanish slang term “güey.” Police confirmed the location as El Paso and stated they are reviewing the incident to determine if any laws were broken.
El Paso Police Chief Peter Pacillas issued a statement on Monday indicating the department is checking for disorderly conduct or other applicable offenses. He noted that symbols and language tied to the Klan represent a history of terror and racial hatred. According to Pacillas, treating that history as a costume or a joke is unacceptable and contrary to the values of respect and safety that define the city.
Carl B. Dwyer Jr., president of the local NAACP branch, addressed the public at a news conference on Monday morning. He described the display as deeply hurtful to Black Americans, a group for whom the KKK has served as a real-life terror since the Civil War. Dwyer observed that many people believe the incident is merely a joke, but he emphasized the pain it causes. After supporters sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” he repeated the phrase, “It hurts.”
Artie C. Maxwell Jr., pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church, also spoke at the Monday event. He provided historical context for the city, which briefly sympathized with the Confederacy. Maxwell warned that while the incident may seem like a joke to some, it is not a joke when considering the lives lost at the hands of those who wore such costumes.
Pacillas invited residents with information about the incident to step forward. He added that free expression has limits when it crosses into conduct that threatens public order or the safety of others. Dwyer called on local superintendents and school districts to speak up and ensure students understand the influence of history on the present.
Source: NBC News
