Shocking footage has emerged showing a group of adults in Ku Klux Klan costumes at a Halloween fire hall dance in Nova Scotia, Canada.
At least four people were wearing 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 the KKK attire was also holding a large cross.
North Sydney Fire Chief Lloyd MacIntosh said ‘a mistake was made,’ adding that the four individuals should not have been allowed in the party.
MacIntosh claimed the four people were let in by volunteers working the door and were allowed to stay after the cross was confiscated and the men told to remove their hoods.
Shocking footage has emerged showing a group of adults in Ku Klux Klan costumes at a Halloween fire hall 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 stay at the dance.
Local Jason MacLean, who is black, telling the CBC the group’s actions were hurtful and arguably hateful.
‘This is where people need to not shy away — it was a racist act,’ he added.
Tia Upshaw, CEO and founder of Canada’s Black Women in Excellence, told Global News she was disgusted by the images.
‘This is 2024 and this is what we’re still doing? This is what we’re still fighting?’ she said.
‘Ku Klux Klan, KKK, I don’t care what rock you’ve come from under, everybody knows what they stand for, who they were and what that represents for Black individuals,’ Upshaw added.
North Sydney Fire Chief Lloyd MacIntosh said ‘a mistake was made,’ adding that the four individuals should not have been allowed in the party
Quentrel Provo, CEO of an organization called Stop the Violence, said it was ‘just another example of the racism in Nova Scotia.’
He added: ‘The fact that this was at an event and no one kicked these individuals out, felt uncomfortable or spoke up until after the fact speaks volumes.’
The North Sydney Firefighters Club has clarified it is not associated with the four individuals, who have not been identified.
‘We made a mistake!’ the group said. ‘We apologize to any and all of our community who were offended or hurt by our lack of actions.
‘These four individuals are in no way, shape or form associated with our organization. We promise to do better in the future.’
Cape Breton deputy fire chief Wade Gouthro, who was not at the event, also apologized over the incident on a Facebook post published on Sunday.
‘I can tell you this, the members of North Sydney and myself are very sorry from the bottom of our hearts and we ask for your forgiveness,’ he wrote.
MacIntosh claimed the four people were let in by volunteers working the door and were allowed to stay after the cross was confiscated and the men told to remove their hoods
‘I will assure you that we are all hurting in our hearts today that we have disappointed a community that we work so hard to make better and protect.
‘We would certainly never intentionally hurt or insult anyone regardless of race, color, orientation or religion. We spend all of our time trying to do right by the community and are here to do all we can for anyone.’
‘When we have Halloween dances you never know what you are going to see come through the door. Most times we think, “Ah, it is a costume,” without really thinking of the big picture or the past it represents, chief Gouthro added.
Cape Breton Regional Police has said they are looking into the incident.