Full Breakdown
El Paso Halloween Gathering Prompts KKK Robe Outcry
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Viral videos posted over a weekend showed roughly six individuals wearing white, point-shaped robes and hoods reminiscent of Ku Klux Klan regalia at a Halloween gathering on the East Side of El Paso, Texas. The footage captured the group walking down a neighborhood street and, according to a police spokesperson, may have included shouted racial slurs. El Paso Police Chief Peter Pacillas announced that the department is reviewing whether the conduct violated disorderly-conduct statutes, hate-crime provisions, or other applicable offenses.
Background & Context
The Ku Klux Klan, founded in 1865, has a documented history in El Paso dating back more than a century; the group fielded mayoral candidates and lost a city-wide election in 1923. The city also bears the memory of the August 2019 Walmart mass shooting, in which a gunman targeted Latino patrons, killing 23 people. These episodes underscore the heightened sensitivity to hate symbols in a border community known for its multicultural heritage.
Key Figures & Groups
- Carl B. Dwyer Jr. – President, El Paso branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
- Veronica Escobar – U.S. Representative for Texas’s 16th congressional district.
- Peter Pacillas – Chief of the El Paso Police Department.
- Artie C. Maxwell Jr. – Pastor, Mount Zion Baptist Church, El Paso.
- Christopher White – Pastor, Greater Faith Church, Northeast El Paso.
- Cesar Blanco – State Senator, Texas.
Official Statements & Responses
At a news conference held in front of the El Paso County courthouse, Dwyer described the display as “deeply hurtful to Black Americans” and urged educators to reinforce historical lessons. Rep. State Sen. Blanco labeled the behavior “unacceptable” and said it does not reflect the city’s values.
Data & Statistics
- Approximate participants in the videos: six individuals.
- NAACP press conference attendees: about 25 members and supporters, including civic leaders and school officials.
- The incident was captured and shared on social-media platforms over the weekend preceding the Monday press conference.
Criticism & Opposition
Local leaders condemned the participants, asserting that treating Klan imagery as a costume trivializes a legacy of racial terror.
What’s Next
The El Paso NAACP announced plans to host a town-hall meeting to discuss discrimination and related incidents in schools; the date will be posted on its social-media channels. Police continue to seek information from the public to identify those involved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I served this country for 31 years as a United States Army soldier, fighting for freedom. And still to this day in 2026, we have people who think it’s OK to don white sheets, white robes and white hats, emblematic of the most racist time and period of this country,” — Carl B. Dwyer
- “The reports of teenagers wearing Ku Klux Klan regalia and allegedly shouting racial slurs in our community are deeply disturbing and unacceptable,” — U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar
- “El Paso is a community built on diversity, resilience, and respect for our neighbors,” — S. Rep. Veronica Escobar