October 23, 2007
Brooklyn High School Principal Receives String Noose
Principal Tyona Washington of Canarsie High School opened up a piece of mail that contained a noose made out of string as well as a 2-page letter containing, per Newsday, "a common racial slur and words suggesting that a black person should not be running the school." The letter also referred to "white power" and had the signature of a white administrator, but police do not believe the letter was from that individual.
Additionally, the NY Times reports that the letter stated, "I'll give you enough rope to hang yourself." The Department of Education says the police were "called as soon as the envelope was opened" and that the DOE was cooperating with authorities. This is the third noose incident reported in the city, after a noose was found outside a Columbia professor's office door and a noose outside the Church Street post office.
The NY State Senate unanimously agreed to hand down stricter punishment to people who use nooses to intimidate others yesterday. And the police have suggested some other hate crimes incidents are the result of copycats. In the wake of these and other hate crime incidents, the Reverend Al Sharpton is planning a protest march on Staten Island in the next few weeks.
And Washington did not comment, but her sister said, "She's very upset and we, the family, are very upset about this."
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I know this might sound awful but I just wish Al Sharpton would stop. Is it just me, or does he have illusions of being MLK? He's just not made of the same fibre--embodying little of the unifying traits that helped propel the Civil Rights Movement past color lines.
I wish he would take a break from trying to get in front of the camera. These are serious issues that could probably be fine without his "help."
I agree... he needs to lay off thinking that he is the voice for the entire black community. However, he seems to be one of the only people organizing events in protest. Can't hate on him for that. Especially in times when they need it the most. I think more leaders (black, white, brown whatever) need to speak out against this hate and organize marches. Being a like-minded white, I hate when I see anti-hate protests without any white people in the crowd.
At least it's not Anthrax.
www.imsorryalsharpton.com
There have been a few recent incidents on Long Island, too. You know, I'm not trying to make light of this but maybe if they stopped putting every single one in the news, there would not be copycats. I know it must be very unnerving for the people who are targeted, but I think a ton of media attention for every person who makes a noose or draws a swastika is just playing into their hands.
And maybe if people stopped sending them, that would help, too... or not marking swastikas on walls. That would help, too.
It feels like the late 70's to early 80's again with the racial tension building and ready to pop like a balloon. Too much publicity does make it worse. It eggs people on that only thought about such nonsense to act on it.
“See, they did it and did not get caught”.
The haters are just ignorant fools that follow along with the crowd and never make decisions for themselves. So sad to see it coming back with a vengeance.
I can't decide if it feels like copycats or a very bored skinhead, but either way it's disgusting.
I'd love to see the nooses transformed -- anyone else here familiar with Swedish love knots? Something like that. Co-opting this into meaningful objects d'art would be the perfect f--- you to the clowns sending these.
i'm sorry but these stories are just stupid. she revieved a tiny little string noose in an envelope & is "very upset" & now we have an anti-noose law? give me a break. there are more important issues that lawmakers should be worring about.
AHT the noose has already been co-opted.
I would lean copycat just because they have also been popping up on LI. But I'm no detective. Maybe he's bored enough to go all the way out there!
She received more than a "little string noose in the envelope," but also a two-page letter filled with invective. Unlike most of these happenings lately where no letters were included, this one goes one step further and if I were her, I'd be scared, upset, and mad as hell.
Not sure about an anti-noose law, though. I'm sure that won't be stopping people from people them out.
I would just mail her cotton and tell her to get back on the field.. but a noose?!..that's taking it too far.