Artist Galen Shelly of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania has become the target of outrage after a ghoulish Halloween float. He sculpted it in remembrance for St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Hanover and included a likeness of the entry arch to Auschwitz concentration camp. This camp, located in Poland, served as a Nazi death camp during World War II, where at least six million Jewish people were systematically murdered.
Shelly created the float with the hope of conveying messages about mortality and the fact that we will all one day die. Retweeting a photo of the Auschwitz gates tweet without knowing what it represents. The float additionally featured the German phrase for “Work Makes Free” in giant letters. This slogan, employed by the Nazis, meant “labor will make you free.” Unfortunately, this phrase has become infamous for its sardonic sarcasm. It was hung above entryways to concentration camps, which were sites of extreme suffering and genocide.
Although his intentions were innocent, after coming to understand the consequences of his design, Shelly himself became remorseful for what he had done. He went on to say, “I did not intend any harm. I regret my mistake and I am very sorry.” He described his thought process even more by stating, “I wanted to convey the fact that we all leave this earth eventually. This was never my idea, and I could never have foreseen it. I am so sorry to everybody.”
That incident received national outrage and led to an apology from Bishop Timothy Senior of the Diocese of Harrisburg. Bishop Senior described his shock and dismay at the inclusion of such a profound symbol of hate in the float’s design. He emphasized that the imagery associated with Auschwitz represents “the horrific suffering and murder of millions of innocent people, including six million Jews during the Holocaust,” calling it “profoundly offensive and unacceptable.”
Bishop Senior reiterated the diocese’s commitment to addressing the hurt caused by the display: “While the original approved design for this float did not contain this imagery, it does not change the fact that this highly recognizable symbol of hate was included. On behalf of the Catholic diocese of Harrisburg, I offer my heartfelt and contrite apology to our Jewish brothers and sisters. Additionally, I personally apologize to everyone who was injured or offended by this display.
The float’s original design included a gorgeous lighted archway and other elegant lanterns. Due to shipping issues, these key elements did not arrive in time to be included in the parade. In his quest for other types of decorations, Shelly looked to photos of cemetery gates, accidentally creating the most inflammatory depiction.