Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
Mechanicsburg clergy and faith leaders are hosting a rally Wednesday night to push back against hate after business cards promoting the “Women of the Ku Klux Klan” were distributed to people who attended the borough’s Oct. 14 Halloween parade. The 45-minute event called “No hate here,” will begin at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29 at the North Railroad Avenue event space, next to the Gingerbread Man in the borough. The Rev. Kathryn Z. Johnston, lead pastor at Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church, said community members are invited to show support for compassion, inclusion, unity, and to make a clear statement: Hate Has No Home Here. “We hope you will come out and join us in this important moment in Mechanicsburg’s history,” Johnston said, according to a press release. “Silence is the welcome mat for hate, and hate is NOT welcome here.” The event, which is being led by multiple Mechanicsburg-based faith leaders, elected civic officials and school administrators, will feature short remarks from local leaders, music, and “opportunities for neighbors to stand together in solidarity.” Additional parking will be available at Buhrig’s Funeral Home at 37 E Main Street. During the Oct. 14 parade, business cards for the “Women of the Ku Klux Klan” featured KKK slogans and contact information, including a phone number from Tennessee. In response, borough officials condemned the distribution as “deeply saddening and disturbing,” emphasizing that such messages contradict the community’s values. The borough solicitor noted the cards are protected under the First Amendment, limiting what local authorities cpi;d do. Residents voiced concerns about safety and asked how the issue could be reported to federal agencies. Council members said some federal agencies have already been alerted. “The clergy and faith leaders of Mechanicsburg and Upper Allen Township stand with the Mechanicsburg Borough Council against racism and hate,” Johnston said. “The recent distribution of hate-based literature by a national supremacist hate group at our community’s Halloween Parade was heartbreaking and disturbing,” she said. “We believe that our human differences should be celebrated, not targeted. We invite everyone to join us in a No Hate Here event in Mechanicsburg.” After the event, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission will host a “No Hate in Our State” town hall beginning at 7:17 p.m. at Buhrig’s Gathering Place at 25 East Main Street. “This will be an educational panel discussion designed to bridge the gap, foster understanding, and help communities move forward, the press release said. “There will also be space given for community members to share.” Leaders representing the following churches will be at the peace rally event: St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Temple Beth Shalom, Trindle Springs Lutheran, Grantham Church, Mechanicsburg Presbyterian, Mechanicsburg Brethren in Christ, Mechanicsburg Community Church, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Turning Point Church, St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, and Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church.
