A Canadian firefighters’ organization is receiving backlash on social media after four people who appeared to be dressed as Ku Klux Klan members were seen at the organization’s Halloween party.
The individuals wore white robes and pointed hats as they attended the North Sydney Firefighters Club party in Nova Scotia.
The firefighters club said the individuals “are in no way, shape or form” associated with the organization.
“We made a mistake!” the club said on Facebook.
The organization also said it promises to “be better” going forward.
“We apologize to any and all of our community who were offended or hurt by our lack of actions,” the club said.
Social media users continued to slam the organization in the comment section of the post.
“This is not a mistake, this is blatant racism,” one user commented. “They should have never been let in. Apologies are meaningless with no actions behind them.”
Additional users called the apology “pathetic” and “weak.”
Fire Chief Lloyd MacIntosh told Global News that volunteers allowed the people in the KKK costumes to enter the party. Volunteers also asked the individuals to remove their hoods, but some refused. One individual also had a cross, which volunteers confiscated.
“They were allowed in, they shouldn’t have been,” MacIntosh said.
He said the firefighters in the club have been “threatened with harm” following the incident.
Deputy Fire Chief Wade Gouthro said the incident is “not who we are or what we stand for.”
“I can tell you this, the members of North Sydney and myself are very sorry from the bottom of our hearts and we ask for your forgiveness,” Gouthro said. “We would certainly never intentionally hurt or insult anyone regardless of race, color, orientation or religion. We spend all of our time trying to do right by the community and are here to do all we can for anyone. I can also tell you to be referred to as racists hurts bad. We are all one on this earth and equal in every way.”
Gouthro said he was not working the dance that night.
“When we have Halloween dances you never know what you are going to see come through the door,” Gouthro said. “Most times we think ‘ah it is a costume’ without really thinking of the big picture or the past it represents. So when you folks comment that they shouldn’t have gotten in and that we need to do better, you are right, and we will.”
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