Effigies Of Black Men Found Hanging By Nooses At UC Berkeley
Three cardboard cutouts of black men were found hanging by nooses Saturday on the Berkeley campus of the University of California, on the same day thousands marched against the recent police shootings of unarmed black men.
[su_center_ad]The Associated Press reports:
School spokeswoman Amy Hamaoui said police are trying to determine who hanged the effigies that were found at two prominent campus locations Saturday morning. The spokeswoman said the effigies appear to be connected to a noon-time demonstration nearby planned to coincide with a national protest against police brutality dubbed “#blacklivesmatters.” The effigies appear to be life-size photos of lynching victims.
The effigies had names of lynching victims and the dates of their death. At least one effigy had “I Can’t Breathe” printed on the front. Hamaoui said it’s unclear who hanged the effigies.
“We are unsure of the intent,” Hamaoui said.
Police removed two of the effigies and a student took down the third.
“We just hope it’s someone who wanted to bring attention to the issue,” said Spencer Pritchard, 21, a UC Berkeley student and an organizer of the demonstration.
Pritchard said that about 200 protesters demonstrated in Berkeley with the goal to “disrupt business as usual to show that black lives matter.”
Re figures hung in effigy on campus, we take this act very seriously and are investigating as racial bias/hate crime, as relates to protests
— UC Police, Berkeley (@UCPD_Cal) December 13, 2014
H/T: The incomparable @CarlaAkins with thanks.[su_csky_ad]
tiredoftea December 13th, 2014 at 7:49 pm
“The effigies had names of lynching victims and the dates of their death. At least one effigy had “I Can’t Breathe” printed on the front. Hamaoui said it’s unclear who hanged the effigies.” A misguided effort to name the victims in support of the protests?
Jones December 13th, 2014 at 7:57 pm
It may be similar to what happened in this story:
http://www.alternet.org/university-iowa-students-wake-threatening-kkk-art-piece
tiredoftea December 13th, 2014 at 8:07 pm
Yeah, it seemed to me that naming the victims was the giveaway that this was an attempt to be supportive rather than divisive.
BreitbartLovesEwe December 14th, 2014 at 11:35 am
Yes. It’s the sort of mistake which is made by someone so aloof that the possibility that their “art” might be misconstrued either doesn’t occur to them or seems like it might be neutral or even positive. It reminds me of a nuclear physicist who drove his car into a deep puddle and hydrolocked the engine… there are different kinds of intelligence and some among us who are highly rewarded for their intellect are not what they are cracked-up to be.
Tommy6860 December 13th, 2014 at 8:10 pm
That’s what I think as well.
jasperjava December 13th, 2014 at 7:52 pm
Berkeley?
BERKELEY?
WTF?
Racist Klansman white supremacy at the most liberal spot in America?
White privilege is getting out of control.
Suzanne McFly December 13th, 2014 at 8:23 pm
On a positive side, one of these groups is dying off and the other group is becoming stronger because people are becoming more empathetic due to technology the world can see the wrongs being committed to other groups by the entity who is paid to provide protection.
tracey marie December 13th, 2014 at 9:42 pm
what is wrong with the right, damn grow the hell up and stop teaching your kids to hate and embrace ignorance
Red Eye Robot December 14th, 2014 at 10:37 pm
Bwaaaaaaaaaaaa! You don’t know how right you are! Yes, hate is what they are teaching at uc berkley!
burqa December 13th, 2014 at 11:10 pm
First Berkeley hires John Yoo and now this…………….
rg9rts December 14th, 2014 at 6:21 am
My my my hasn’t Berkley come a long way.
Denise December 14th, 2014 at 10:44 am
Smh.
paul fredine December 14th, 2014 at 1:48 pm
personally, for me the intent was clear….to equate these recent deaths with the hate-inspired lynchings of the jim crow south. controversial? yes. possibly even in bad taste. but i don’t think they were as ill-intentioned as some people think.