Copycat noose displays after US racial unrest

The racial unrest in Jena, Louisiana, prompted by the hanging by white pupils of three nooses from a tree in the school playground has sparked a spate of copycat incidents across America.

At least 10 cases have been reported in recent weeks of nooses being found in public buildings in chilling reminders of the country's deep-seated racial tensions. In one case a noose was left dangling from the door of a black professor at Columbia University's teachers' college in New York.The professor, Madonna Constantine, a specialist in psychology and education, has written a book on race equality called Addressing Racism. Officers from the New York police hate crimes task force are investigating.

Susan Furhrman, the college president, said she deplored this "hateful act, which violates every...societal norm".

The unrest in Jena culminated with a fight in the school after which six black teenagers, the so-called Jena six, were initially charged with attempted murder. The white pupils who put up the nooses were merely suspended for a few days.

One copycat case occurred last month on the day of a huge rally of black Americans in Jena in support of the Jena six. After the rally a red truck was spotted driving through nearby Alexandria with a red noose hanging from the back.

Among other incidents recently: a noose was found hanging from a store being built in Chicago; a student drove into his high school in Chicago with a noose hanging from his rearview mirror; a noose was found in a police locker room in Long Island, New York; and a woman was arrested in Queens, New York, for flashing a noose at her black neighbours and threatening to kill their children.

Guardian