Controversial Mt. Pleasant Halloween parade entry not a hate crime, officials say

An entry in Mt. Pleasant’s annual Halloween parade that disturbed many people with an apparent depiction of Democratic Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris handcuffed and tethered to a golf cart did not rise to the legal definition of a hate crime, according to borough officials.

Borough Solicitor Leslie Mlakar told Mt. Pleasant Council at its meeting Monday that ruling was provided to borough police Chief George Grippo by a assistant state attorney general.

The state legal official “saw no crime, no hate crimes, whether it was in good taste or bad taste,” Mlakar said.

“It was in bad taste, in my opinion, and I’m sure in many others’ opinions out there,” resident Neil Como told council. “It was outlandish that it was done in a parade that’s meant for children.”

Despite the legal opinion, some in town have drawn a different conclusion about the parade entry, which featured a person wearing a Donald Trump mask and others apparently meant to depict Secret Service agents.

A sign in support of the former president hung on the front of the cart. Photos of the display posted on social media showed what looked like a long gun sitting on a tripod on top of the roof of the golf cart.

Steve Samuels, owner of the Hub men’s formal wear shop on Mt. Pleasant’s Main Street, didn’t see the parade but has heard about the controversial entry.

“It’s not good for the town,” Samuels said. “I would say everybody you would talk to on Main Street, if they’re normal, they would say that they’re against any kind of form of hatred. And that’s definitely a form of hatred.”

The Pittsburgh branch of the NAACP denounced the parade entry as a symbol of racism and hatred.

Mayor Diane Bailey, a Democrat, has called the display disturbing and upsetting.

Mlakar pointed out the parade was organized by Mt. Pleasant’s Volunteer Fire Department, not the borough.

The department has issued a statement apologizing for the appearance of the parade entry, indicating the department does “not share in the values represented by those participants.” The statement said the department is “committed to learning from this experience and ensuring that our future events celebrate the diversity and spirit of our community in a positive way.”

Fire department officials said they did not have a process in place for vetting parade entries, but President Richard Pologruto said Monday that firefighters are working on developing a system and attempting to learn who created and manned the entry.

Masks and sunglasses worn by the participants has made identification difficult, Bailey said, indicating parade video was sent to the borough police department. Chief Grippo declined to comment on the matter Monday.

“I can’t see anybody from Mt. Pleasant depicting hatred,” Samuels said. “I can’t see that happening in Mt. Pleasant because it’s a friendly town.

“I’m not sure how they missed it when the parade started.”

“I didn’t know you could just enter anything into the parade like that,” said Zach Snyder, who owns Snyder Strength and Conditioning in Mt. Pleasant. “I thought there was going to be more oversight.”

Pologruto said the participants may have added elements to their entry following the parade lineup, where he said, “There was nothing that looked suspicious.”

While the borough is not in charge of the Halloween parade, it does organize the town’s annual holiday parade. But, “There is no ordinance that says we’re vetting what goes into the parade,” Mlakar said.

Local business owner Teresa Duchess told council it should develop such an ordinance.

Five days after Mt. Pleasant’s annual Halloween parade and on the eve of the presidential election, people in the community’s downtown Monday afternoon still were talking about the controversial entry.

“We don’t really talk too much politics here,” Snyder said, but given the controversy over the parade entry, “That’s definitely something that’s going to get talked about.

“It keeps getting brought up by more people who keep finding out about it. Most of the opinions are that it was not a positive thing.”

Snyder said the controversy hasn’t affected his business, which has a local clientele. But, he said, “It definitely doesn’t make people look good from outside (of town). It doesn’t make anybody look good.”

He wondered if the controversy, which has gained national attention, might prevent some potential visitors from stopping in Mt. Pleasant.

“I hope not too many people judge the town harshly,” he said.

Owner Mike King said just one customer at Mt. Pleasant’s The Vapor Den had mentioned the parade entry.

“Their kids didn’t know what that was,” King said. “That’s what I was concerned about — the kids. It was just the adults who were offended.

“Its unfortunate that it was a big deal. It’s unfortunate that politics gets into Halloween. I just want everybody to get along.”

“Hopefully, it blows over,” Snyder said Monday of the controversy stirred by the parade entry. “We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”