The rally and town hall were in response to the incident during the borough’s Halloween parade.
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Mechanicsburg Wednesday to unite against hate and for equality after racist business cards were handed out to children at a community event.
The rally was followed by a town hall meeting with local leaders and civil rights advocates to discuss the current state of white supremacy groups in the area.
Parents reported that children received flyers advertising the “Women of the Ku Klux Klan” organization during the borough’s October 14 Halloween parade.
Community members carried signs and sang songs at the rally to promote unity and love.
Peggy Houyouse, of Mechanicsburg, said she wants to use her faith for love, as opposed to the KKK.
“Jesus died for all of us, not just one,” Houyouse said. “He died for each person, for our sins and to share love. »
Houyouse said she was stunned that such hateful material could appear in her hometown.
“I was amazed that this happened,” she said. “I didn’t expect this here in Mechanicsburg. Mechanicsburg is a very quiet and loving community.”
Gordon Kaslusky, director of the Mechanicsburg Area High School choir, said he was invited by a local religious leader to lead participants in singing as part of the gathering.
“Singing is a great way to bring people together,” Kaslusky said. “It’s very disturbing and infuriating to see this in our community, so it felt like a small thing I could do to help bring people together.”
Mechanicsburg Borough Council President Kyle Miller said local leaders felt it was critical to launch a unified, bipartisan response to the incident.
“My reaction was the same as the rest of the Council,” Miller said. “I was very saddened and disturbed that someone would distribute this to children in our community. This is a call to come together, to reject this view. Hate has no place here in Mechanicsburg. This does not reflect our values.”
Miller said the event sent a strong message that the borough is united.
“We are all here to support each other, love each other and treat each other equally,” he said. “We stand united against hate and we don’t believe it has any place here in Mechanicsburg.”
