Nooses hung at N.C. schools
Investigations to weigh intent
By: Louis Dillon Savage, Staff Writer
Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: State & National
Several nooses have been found at N.C. schools, in apparent imitation of those that provoked the Jena Six violence in Louisiana.
The discovery of the nooses elicited diverse reactions, reflecting the difference in their intended messages.
Four nooses discovered at T.W. Andrews High School on Friday morning, which administrators removed immediately, are believed to have been hung with malicious intent.
Capt. Kenneth Shultz of the High Point Police Department said an investigation is ongoing, but he could not say if charges would be pressed.
"The investigation will have to determine intentions," he said.
"It could be something that is handled at a school level, or it could be something like disorderly conduct or maybe an intimidation charge."
The nooses at N.C. Agricultural and Technical State University were found attached to information expressing support for the Jena Six. They also were removed immediately.
Nettie Rowland, director of media relations for N.C. A&T, said an investigation is ongoing.
All sources said the nooses found at N.C. A&T were a different case. Marcus Baffs, director of external affairs for the N.C. A&T student body, said the information attached to the nooses warranted the difference in reaction.
"We would not consider that a definite hate crime," he said, adding that there had been no fallout from the incident.
Baffs expressed support for the students of T.W. Andrews High. "If we can offer them any assistance, we are behind them 100 percent."
The nooses found at the High Point school were unadorned, leading to their interpretation as symbols of racial violence.
Ashley Osment, senior attorney at the UNC Center for Civil Rights, called the nooses at the high school a clear expression of violence against black students and said the noose hangings could not be defended as free expression.
"Trespassing is not an expression of civil liberty. Vandalism is not an expression of civil liberty," she said.
The discovery of the nooses elicited diverse reactions, reflecting the difference in their intended messages.
Four nooses discovered at T.W. Andrews High School on Friday morning, which administrators removed immediately, are believed to have been hung with malicious intent.
Capt. Kenneth Shultz of the High Point Police Department said an investigation is ongoing, but he could not say if charges would be pressed.
"The investigation will have to determine intentions," he said.
"It could be something that is handled at a school level, or it could be something like disorderly conduct or maybe an intimidation charge."
The nooses at N.C. Agricultural and Technical State University were found attached to information expressing support for the Jena Six. They also were removed immediately.
Nettie Rowland, director of media relations for N.C. A&T, said an investigation is ongoing.
All sources said the nooses found at N.C. A&T were a different case. Marcus Baffs, director of external affairs for the N.C. A&T student body, said the information attached to the nooses warranted the difference in reaction.
"We would not consider that a definite hate crime," he said, adding that there had been no fallout from the incident.
Baffs expressed support for the students of T.W. Andrews High. "If we can offer them any assistance, we are behind them 100 percent."
The nooses found at the High Point school were unadorned, leading to their interpretation as symbols of racial violence.
Ashley Osment, senior attorney at the UNC Center for Civil Rights, called the nooses at the high school a clear expression of violence against black students and said the noose hangings could not be defended as free expression.
"Trespassing is not an expression of civil liberty. Vandalism is not an expression of civil liberty," she said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 26
Dexter Mullins
posted 9/25/07 @ 10:57 AM EST
While as a concerned African American student at NCA&T I can respect these peice, as a fellow journalism major, what I cannot respect is the reporters disregard to accuracy. (Continued…)
Jim Crowe
posted 9/25/07 @ 7:39 PM EST
Hilarious.
FarmTruk
posted 9/25/07 @ 11:17 PM EST
It needs to be made VERY clear. The display of nooses, while reprehensible, is NOT a crime. Physical attacks on persons in retailiation for displaying a noose, equally reprehensible, IS a crime. (Continued…)
Head Bustin' Hank
posted 9/25/07 @ 11:49 PM EST
5 Black kids recently beat up a White kid in Norfolk VA just because he was White. About 90% of racial hate crimes in the USA are performed by Blacks against White victims. (Continued…)
FarmTruk
posted 9/26/07 @ 12:37 PM EST
Why is it assumed the nooses hung at Andrews HS, and NC A&T were "terroristic threats"?
Is it because the liberal media, blogosphere, and and attorney for an organization which represents minority interests (and has strong ties to the NAACP, ACLU, and HBCU's) says so?
I have received on good authority a report that the Andrews HS incident (which is a majority black campus) was possibly commited by misguided minorities, who hoped to attract media attention, and the hope of a visit by civil rights "leaders", such as what occured in Jena, LA. (Continued…)
Head Bustin' Hank
posted 9/26/07 @ 1:09 PM EST
EDUCATED BLACK MAN...EXCUSE ME..."DR." EDUCATED BLACK MAN PhD SAID:
"FIRST AND FOREMOST....LWET ME ADDRESS THE IGNORANCE THAT YOU POSESS!!! THIS IS 2007!!! DO YOU REALLY THINK AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE GONNA GO FOR THE WHOLE LYNCHING IDEA??? COME ON. (Continued…)
Shocked
posted 9/26/07 @ 3:12 PM EST
Head Bustin Hank
...And people have the nerve to say that racism is not prevalent in the USA. You just proved all of those ignorant people wrong!
r u serious?
posted 9/26/07 @ 3:55 PM EST
You guys are absolutley insulting to white people. In case you didn't know, we are in the year 2007 and lynching is a little far fetched and so should racism. (Continued…)
LETSTALKTRUTH
posted 9/26/07 @ 5:43 PM EST
In case you didn't know this:
Mob assault is a form of lynching...several states include mob assault in their lynching statutes.
What the Jena 6 did would have been considered lynching in Virginia. (Continued…)
bradjon
posted 9/26/07 @ 8:09 PM EST
I live in Northeast Louisiana not far from Jena and can say that not all the fact about the incident was reported in the national news. That tree has not been there since segregation it was planted in 1996 by a school official. (Continued…)
Post a Comment