El Paso leaders demand school action after KKK robe video
City officials and civil rights groups are calling for a meeting with school districts within 30 days after a viral clip showed students in white robes.
By Jonathan Ramirez ·
A single viral video has triggered a formal police investigation and a public demand for accountability in El Paso, Texas. The clip shows a group of young people walking through a local neighborhood wearing white robes, white hats, and sheets associated with the Ku Klux Klan. Witnesses in the footage allege the group shouted racial slurs.
The incident occurred in October 2026. On Monday morning, local leaders gathered outside the El Paso County Courthouse to address the public. The El Paso Branch of the NAACP joined elected officials, faith leaders, and community members for a news conference. They rejected the idea that the display was a harmless Halloween costume or a social media joke.
Carl B. Dwyer Jr., president of the El Paso NAACP, spoke to the crowd. He is a 31-year U.S. Army veteran. Dwyer said the image of people in white robes and hats in 2026 is painful. He stated that the display is emblematic of a racist period in the country's history. He told attendees that it is not a joke and should not be taken lightly.
Dwyer connected the event to ongoing issues in local schools. He cited reports of parents saying their Black children are being targeted with slurs. He also referenced a recent assault on two teenage Black female students at Pebble Hills High School. Dwyer urged superintendents from the El Paso, Ysleta, Socorro, and Canutillo school districts to meet with the NAACP. He wants them to address racial harassment and implement protections for students.
El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson released a statement before the press conference. He said families have contacted his office feeling afraid. Johnson noted that students chose to dress as members of the KKK last week. He said there is nothing funny about the attire because it represents a painful history of hate, racism, and violence.
El Paso Police Chief Peter Pacillas confirmed that the department is reviewing the social media videos. Officers are determining if any laws were violated, such as disorderly conduct. Pacillas stated that symbols and language associated with the KKK represent a history of terror and racial hatred. He asked anyone with information about the gathering to contact law enforcement.
Other leaders joined the call for action. City Representative Chris Canales urged residents to confront the city's history, noting its ties to the Confederacy. Patrick Butler-Rab, executive director of Border Communities United, recalled the mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart on August 3, 2019. He warned that normalizing hate speech can lead to tragedy. Leah Hanany, an El Paso Independent School District trustee speaking individually, called for peer condemnation of hate symbols.
The NAACP will hold a community town hall within the next 30 days. The event will feature representatives from area school districts. They will discuss school-based incidents and parent concerns directly with the public.
