Shocking footage has emerged of a group of adults in Ku Klux Klan costumes at a Halloween firehouse dance in Nova Scotia, Canada.
At least four people wore the white robes and pointed hoods associated with the hate group at a Halloween event at the North Sydney Firefighters Club on Saturday.
One of the people in KKK costumes also held a large cross.
North Sydney Fire Chief Lloyd MacIntosh said a “mistake was made” and added that the four people should not have been at the party.
MacIntosh claimed the four people were let in by volunteers at the door and were allowed to stay after the cross was confiscated and the men were told to remove their hoods.
Shocking footage has emerged of a group of adults in Ku Klux Klan costumes at a Halloween firehouse dance in Nova Scotia, Canada
The images of the KKK costumes have outraged the community, with many expressing anger that the four people were allowed to enter and remain at the ball.
Local Jason MacLean, who is Black, told CBC that the group’s actions were hurtful and perhaps hateful.
“This is what people are not going to shy away from — it was a racist act,” he added.
Tia Upshaw, CEO and founder of Canada’s Black Women in Excellence, told Global News that she was disgusted by the images.
“This is 2024 and this is what we’re still doing? This is what we’re still fighting against?” she said.
“Ku Klux Klan, KKK, I don’t care what rock you come from, everybody knows what they stand for, who they were and what that means to Black individuals,” Upshaw added.
North Sydney Fire Chief Lloyd MacIntosh said “a mistake was made” and added that the four people should not have been at the party
Quentrel Provo, CEO of an organization called Stop the Violence, said it was “just another example of racism in Nova Scotia.”
He added: “The fact that this was at an event and no one threw these individuals out, made them feel uncomfortable or said anything about it until after the fact speaks volumes.”
The North Sydney Fire Department has made it clear that it has no ties to the four individuals, who have not yet been identified.
“We made a mistake!” the group said. “We apologize to anyone in our community who was offended or hurt by our lack of action.
“These four individuals are in no way affiliated with our organization. We promise to do better in the future.”
Cape Breton Deputy Fire Chief Wade Gouthro, who was not present at the event, also apologized for the incident in a Facebook post published Sunday.
“I can tell you this: the members of North Sydney and I deeply regret it and ask for your forgiveness,” he wrote.
MacIntosh claimed the four people were let in by volunteers manning the door and allowed to stay after the cross was confiscated and the men were told to remove their hoods.
“I can assure you that we all have a heavy heart today because we have let down a community that we have worked so hard to improve and protect.
“We would certainly never intentionally hurt or offend anyone, regardless of race, color, orientation or religion. We spend all of our time doing good things for the community and are here to do everything we can for everyone.”
“When we have Halloween dances, you never know what you’re going to see coming through the door. Most of the time we think, ‘Ah, it’s a costume,’ without really thinking about the bigger picture or the past that it represents,” Chef Gouthro added.