PA Halloween Parade Depicted Harris Tethered To Trump-Driven Vehicle

WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PA — Organizers of a community Halloween parade permitted a float that depicted Vice President Kamala Harris with her hands bound and tethered to a vehicle driven by former President Donald Trump.

The Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department has apologized for allowing the float, which also featured people dressed as Secret Service agents surrounding Trump and a fake sniper rifle. Photos and videos of the float from Wednesday's parade have been circulating widely on social media.

The float was condemned Thursday by the NAACP's Pittsburgh branch, which posted the photos on its Facebook page.

"This appalling portrayal goes beyond the realm of Halloween satire or free expression; it is a harmful symbol that evokes a painful history of violence, oppression, and racism that Black and Brown communities have long endured here in America," NAACP Pittsburgh Branch President Daylon A. Davis said in a statement.

"In allowing this display, the organizers have sent a troubling message that demeans and dehumanizes Black and Brown individuals. This kind of imagery reinforces a dangerous narrative, implicitly suggesting that Black individuals belong in chains. Such a display has no place in our society today or any community that values inclusivity, respect, and human dignity."

Democratic state House Speaker Joanna McClinton on Friday also condemned the depiction of Harris, saying she "horrified by the disgusting display of hate."

"Depicting Vice President Harris in chains at the hands of her opponent is grounded symbolism from our country’s painful past," she said in a statement. "Exhibitions like these are never appropriate in a civil discourse and are inconsistent with our values as Pennsylvanians."

The parade has been a township staple for seven decades and is organized by the Mount Pleasant Volunteer Department, which issued a statement on Facebook Thursday night apologizing for the float.

"We do not share in the values represented by those participants, and we understand how it may have hurt or offended members of our community," the statement said.

"We’re proud to have sponsored this parade for over 70 years and its goal has always been to support our community's children. We are committed to learning from this experience and ensuring that our future events celebrate the diversity and spirit of our community in a positive way.

"The annual Halloween Parade is a first come, first serve event and we have traditionally only provided safety & traffic control. We will be reviewing our planning processes to prevent a situation like this from happening again. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to make our events more welcoming for everyone."