Student at Pittsburgh High School Wears KKK Robe for Costume Day; No One Said Anything to Him for at Least Four Class Periods

A student at a Pittsburgh high school wore a Ku Klux Klan robe to school for at least four class periods.

On Wednesday, Pittsburgh High School had its costume day, where students were allowed to dress up and participate in the school’s costume contest. Instead of wearing a traditional Halloween costume, a student decided to wear a KKK robe. ABC 7 reports that the student’s KKK robe was taken, but parents and students have been left outraged and disturbed.

“I was surprised, like how the principal or none of the security agents didn’t stop him or anything like that,” said one of the students at the school. Come to find out, the student claimed to have worn the KKK robe was a “dare.”

“Even if it was a ‘dare,’ that’s still disrespectful to like, you know our kind, and stuff, that’s still disrespectful,” said another student. A woman who has two siblings that attend the school questioned why anyone would let him step foot on the campus. “Why would you let somebody come to school and walk around all day like that?” said the woman.

A note to staff, students and parents said the student has been “assigned consequences. One of those consequences includes the student going through “the school’s restorative justice process,” which will teach about how his actions harmed others. But, others feel that just isn’t enough. “He should be expelled! No comment, just saying, it is what it is, he shouldn’t have, that’s disrespectful to everybody,” said one of the students.

The school’s principal, Todd Whitemire, wrote a statement, saying: “It was brought to our attention a student wore a KKK costume to school yesterday. The costume was confiscated and we met with the students and a member of his family this morning. The student admitted to wearing the costume on a “dare.” He made it through the first four periods, I believe, because he wore the costume only during certain times and not during class. The student has been assigned consequences for his actions and he will also participate in our restorative justice process to learn how his actions have impacted and harmed others.”

It continued: “He will also work with our restorative justice ambassadors, parents, and staff to begin repairing the harm he has caused. A photo of the student in this costume was posted on social media and many students, staff, and community members are upset and concerned. As a school community, we are very disappointed and concerned with the actions of this student. We are committed to addressing what has occurred and working with this student to help him recognize the harm his actions have caused and, just as importantly, the responsibility he has, along with our school, to help repair the harm.”