Diocese 'appalled' after Catholic school Halloween float had 'replica' of Auschwitz gate

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: WHP, CBS channel 21 in Harrisburg

Diocese 'appalled' after Catholic school Halloween float had 'replica' of Auschwitz gate

by Austin Winkler
Sat, November 1, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Updated Sat, November 1, 2025 at 12:52 PM


Photo of the St. Joseph's Catholic School Parade float that shows the words "Arbeit Macht Frei". (Credit: Nicole Sellers)

YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) -- The Harrisburg Diocese is condemning a float that was used by a local Catholic school in the Hanover Halloween parade which showed "a replica of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp gate."

Parade-goers first noticed the disturbing imagery as the many floats made their way through Hanover Thursday night.

In a statement issued to the public, the diocese said the parade float belonged to Saint Joseph Catholic School in Hanover and had the words "Arbeit Macht Frei"--a German phrase meaning "work makes you free" which was used at Nazi concentration camps.

The parade was livestreamed in full by Community Media of South Central PA and the float can be seen passing by at 1:38:30.

https://youtube.com/watch?vsM7w4gmwEQE

While a reason was not provided as to why or how the float made it into the parade, the diocese apologized and confirmed the initial approved float design did not contain this "highly recognizable symbol of hate."

{snip}

Read more: https://local21news.com/news/local/halloween-float-auschwitz-gate-replica-catholic-school-arbeit-macht-frei-nazi-harrisburg-diocese-appaled-hanover-york-county-pennsylvania

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OK. On a local Facebook page a dude is claiming to the ”artist” behind a series of floats and giving a long word salad explanation for his artistic vision. Seems either ill or very neurodivergent. Still doesn’t explain how nobody else caught it.

— Point Blank Sandwich Hat (@kenwhite.bsky.social) 2025-11-01T17:22:16.778Z

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Stone Cold "Crazy" Hat
https://bsky.app/profile/kenwhite.bsky.social

OK. On a local Facebook page a dude is claiming to the "artist" behind a series of floats and giving a long word salad explanation for his artistic vision. Seems either ill or very neurodivergent. Still doesn't explain how nobody else caught it.

‪Stone Cold "Crazy" Hat‬
https://bsky.app/profile/kenwhite.bsky.social

· 38m
The students of Saint Joseph Catholic school in Hanover apologized, saying they didn't realize the significance of the float and that it won't be used again in part because they now understand it is inappropriate and in part because it is running third for the Democratic Senate nomination in Maine
November 1, 2025 at 1:22 PM
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Just a bit of it.

— Point Blank Sandwich Hat (@kenwhite.bsky.social) 2025-11-01T17:23:45.291Z

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Stone Cold "Crazy" Hat
https://bsky.app/profile/kenwhite.bsky.social

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Just a bit of it.

November 1, 2025 at 1:23 PM
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