The small town of Hanover, Pennsylvania, is grappling with the fallout from a Halloween parade that took a shocking turn, igniting a chain of public outrage, apologies, and even criminal charges. The controversy centers on a float presented by St. Joseph Catholic School, which rolled through the streets featuring a replica of the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp gate, complete with the chilling words “Arbeit Macht Frei.” The phrase, etched in history as a symbol of Nazi cruelty, translates to “work makes you free” and greeted prisoners arriving at Auschwitz, one of the most notorious sites of the Holocaust.
According to NBC News, Bishop Timothy C. Senior of the Diocese of Harrisburg was quick to respond after images of the float circulated online. “The inclusion of this image — one that represents the horrific suffering and murder of millions of innocent people, including six million Jews during the Holocaust — is profoundly offensive and unacceptable,” Senior stated. He went on to express his shock and dismay, emphasizing that the original, approved float design had not included any Holocaust imagery. “On behalf of the Diocese of Harrisburg, I express my sincere apology to our Jewish brothers and sisters and to all who were hurt or offended by this display,” Senior said, adding, “I strongly condemn the inclusion of this symbol on the float.”
The backlash was immediate and fierce. Social media platforms lit up with condemnation, and Jewish organizations across York, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia voiced their distress. Local leaders, including those from the Pennsylvania and York City Human Rights Commissions, also spoke out against the float’s use of Nazi symbolism. The company that volunteered to pull the float and Galen Shelly, the designer, both issued public apologies. In a lengthy Facebook post, Shelly attempted to explain his decision-making, but the apology did little to quell the outrage.
The parade incident unfolded on Thursday, November 6, 2025, but it was far from the only event fueling heightened sensitivities around antisemitism in the U.S. Just days earlier, a man dressed in a Nazi uniform was arrested for allegedly assaulting a Jewish student outside a University of Georgia bar after being denied entry because of his costume. Against this backdrop, the appearance of Auschwitz’s gate in a family parade struck a particularly raw nerve.
If that were not enough, the story took another dramatic twist when Joseph Gilleo II, a 28-year-old from Falls Township in Bucks County, was arraigned on charges including ethnic intimidation, terroristic threats, harassment, and disorderly conduct. As reported by The York Dispatch, Gilleo allegedly left a minute-long voicemail at St. Joseph Catholic School’s principal’s office the Saturday following the parade. The message, described in charging documents and transcribed by police, began with skepticism that school officials could be unaware of the float’s inappropriateness. It quickly escalated to threats: “Maybe we should turn your little school into a concentration camp. Maybe it’s time to persecute you religious f--- nuts like the psychopaths you are. Your children are now in danger. You should have had a better handle on them.” The message continued with statements such as “God has abandoned you,” and “He will not save you from what happens next.”
School principal Melissa Connahey received the voicemail and promptly reported it to the church’s priest, Rev. Michael Rothan, who then contacted law enforcement. Police traced the call to Gilleo’s family home in Bucks County, confirming with his family that it was his voice. The charges against Gilleo include ethnic intimidation, a second-degree felony enhancement under Pennsylvania law, which covers malicious acts based on race, color, religion, or national origin. The law does not extend to LGBTQ+ individuals, but it is clear in its protection of religious groups, a fact that seemed to surprise Gilleo. “I guess religion is considered an ethnicity,” he remarked as he left his preliminary arraignment, according to The York Dispatch.
The arraignment itself was routine, with District Judge Jeffrey Sneeringer setting Gilleo’s bail at $75,000 unsecured—meaning he did not have to pay cash up front, but could be held liable if he violates bail conditions. Gilleo is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on January 29, 2026. Neither he nor his mother, who accompanied him to court, offered further comment, and his attorney did not immediately respond to follow-up inquiries.
In the days following the incident, St. Joseph Catholic School remained largely silent, with only a brief statement from the diocese’s spokeswoman, Rachel Bryson, referring back to Bishop Senior’s apology. No deeper explanation was offered regarding the ethnic intimidation charge, and requests for clarification from Penn Township Police and the district attorney’s office went unanswered.
The incident has left the community wrestling with difficult questions. How could such a symbol of hate end up on a school float? And what’s the right way to respond when a misguided act is met with threats of violence? Bishop Senior has promised to work with the school community to review and strengthen approval processes, aiming to ensure that “such a grievous incident” does not happen again. “We must remain vigilant to prevent harm and foster understanding,” he said.
Meanwhile, the reaction on social media and in public forums reflects a society still struggling to reckon with the legacy of the Holocaust and the resurgence of antisemitism. For some, the float’s appearance was a painful reminder of enduring prejudice. For others, the threatening voicemail underscored the volatility of public discourse, where outrage can quickly spiral into something more sinister. The fact that the Catholic school—initially the source of offense—has now become a victim in a hate crime case adds yet another layer of complexity.
As the legal process moves forward, many in Hanover and beyond are watching closely. The hope is that, out of this painful episode, there will be lessons learned—about sensitivity, accountability, and the importance of standing against hate in all its forms.
For now, the parade float that was meant to bring a community together has instead forced it to confront uncomfortable truths. The road to healing, it seems, will require more than apologies and court dates; it will demand honest reflection and a renewed commitment to the values of respect and inclusion.