Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
More than 150 people came together in Mechanicsburg early Wednesday evening as part of a “No Hate Here” rally in response to the distribution of Ku Klux Klan (KKK) business cards at the borough’s Halloween parade. The rally was held at the North Railroad Avenue event space, next to the Gingerbread Man. A panel discussion organized by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) was held down the street afterward. Several local government and religious leaders spoke during the rally, including the Rev. Kathryn Z. Johnston, lead pastor at Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church and one of the rally’s organizers. “Differences should be celebrated, not targeted,” Johnston said to the crowd while condemning racism and other forms of discrimination. Mechanicsburg Area School District Superintendent Andrew Bitz also gave a brief statement on behalf of the district, saying, “We believe hate has no place here.” Wednesday’s event came after business cards for the “Women of the Ku Klux Klan” (WKKK) were found in children’s candy bags following the parade on Oct. 14. As the rally wrapped up, dozens of people filled Buhrig’s Funeral Home for the panel discussion moderated by Sheryl Meck, of the PHRC’s outreach division. The panel members included Johnston, Mechanicsburg councilwoman Sara Agerton, Rev. Bobby Jones of the United Methodist Church in Enola, Ann Van Dyke of the Community Responders Network and Cpl. Tristan Bennett from the Pennsylvania State Police’s office of community engagement. Before the panel members answered questions, Alon Milwicki of the Southern Poverty Law Center shared a brief history of the KKK through Zoom. While Meck asked a variety of questions to the panelists, many shared similar sentiments about how to combat racism and hate in a community like Mechanicsburg. Van Dyke, Agerton and Johnston said it is important not to isolate those who could be indoctrinated into hate groups like the KKK, Proud Boys and Patriot Front. Creating opportunities to have constructive dialogue, even with those spreading hate, is the only way to discover the root cause of their beliefs, some of the panel members explained. Van Dyke and Agerton also shared that many people who join and participate in hate groups have suffered some form of abuse or trauma and ultimately desire purpose and love.
