Photos show Oklahoma students in KKK costumes at an off-campus Halloween gathering, and one girl’s dad says ‘There is no excuse or defense for it’
Photos from an off-campus Halloween gathering have set off a KKK Halloween costume backlash in Wellston, Oklahoma. The images appear to show three people in Ku Klux Klan robes and hoods at a party attended by current and former students, according to News 9. Wellston Public Schools confirmed that a few of those involved are current students and many are former students.
Chuck Brewer, whose daughter shared the images online, said in a written statement that he does not defend her involvement. “There is no excuse or defense for it. She understands this now,” Brewer wrote. His daughter, who appeared in the photos wearing a different costume, removed the post at his direction, later apologized on Facebook, and reposted on X.
The district said the gathering happened outside school hours, away from school property, and was not sponsored by Wellston Public Schools. Superintendent Dr. Susan Wray addressed the photos in a letter to parents, guardians, and community members. “We are disappointed and heartbroken by the images,” Wray wrote.
The district won’t say whether any students have been punished
Wray said the district learned about the gathering through social media posts and messages from residents. Although the incident happened away from campus, she said the behavior reflects on the wider Wellston community. She also encouraged parents to talk with their children about respecting others and making sure everyone feels welcome.
The district has consulted school attorneys about the situation. However, the letter did not identify any disciplinary action taken against students, as the district cited the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA, as the reason student records stay protected.
Brewer said he talked with his daughter about the Klan’s history of racial hatred and violence and why the photo caused so much pain. “To me, this was the right thing to do and as a parent it’s me holding her accountable so she will understand the gravity of her error,” Brewer wrote.
Brewer also said his daughter has received online criticism and threats of physical violence since the images spread. He added that he and her mother will keep supporting her while continuing to hold her accountable for her actions.
Justin White, a Wellston resident who shared the photos on Facebook, wrote that he has experienced racism in the town for as long as he can remember. He argued that the images should not be dismissed because they came from a Halloween party. White described them as part of a pattern that he believes has affected generations of Black residents.
White urged parents and residents to acknowledge the harm caused by racist imagery and to speak out, as he believes racism in the area is too often minimized. “The problem isn’t that we’re finally speaking up,” White wrote, adding, “The problem is how long we’ve been expected to stay quiet.”
The Klan once held real power across Oklahoma
The Klan did not officially arrive in Oklahoma until 1920, but its power peaked during that decade, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society. In many communities, local law officers were Klan members or sympathizers. Gov. John C. Walton put parts of the state under martial law as violence attributed to the group continued, and the fight became the main focus of his 1923 impeachment.
The district’s caution could also reflect a 2021 Supreme Court ruling, as the Wellston gathering took place off campus. In Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., the justices found that schools have a weaker interest in regulating what students say off campus. However, the court said that interest does not disappear entirely.
Wellston Public Schools has said it will follow its attorneys’ legal advice, and any discipline the district decides on is likely to remain private under federal student privacy law.
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