Noose, Symbol Of Racial Violence, Hung From Tree In Montgomery Village

MONTGOMERY VILLAGE, MD — A noose was spotted hanging from a tree in the Heron's Cove Condominium neighborhood in Montgomery Village Thursday morning, police said.

At about 9:09 a.m., officers responded to reports of a noose seen hanging from a tree in the 18900 block of Mills Choice Road in Montgomery Village. The synthetic rope noose was found in a tree in a common area near the neighborhood parking lot around 8 a.m., police said.

The residents whom officers interviewed had no indication that this was directed toward a specific individual or of any related suspicious activity in the neighborhood, police said. The noose was removed by the responding officer and entered into evidence.

See Related:

• Bananas Hung from Nooses at American University in DC: Report
• 2 Arrested For Hanging Noose At Crofton Middle School: Update
• Noose Found In African-American History Museum In DC
  
• More Noose Discoveries In DC Spark Outrage

Nooses were hung around American University in Northwest D.C. in early May, an incident that campus police called a "racially motivated hate crime." One was also found at a fraternity house at the University of Maryland May 4.

Also in May, two 19-year-olds from Crofton and Pasadena, Maryland, were charged for hanging a noose outside Crofton Middle School. A teacher spotted the noose hanging from a light fixture on the exterior of the building about 11 a.m. Thursday at the school, 2301 Davidsonville Road in Crofton. A school custodian immediately took the object down and police were called.

A noose was then found hanging from a tree outside the Hirshhorn Museum in DC May 27, and a few days later two nooses were found in the African-American History Museum in DC. Smithsonian NMAAHC Founding Director Lonnie Bunch released a statement calling the noose at the African-AmericanHistory Museum a "horrible act" and a "stark reminder of why our work is so important."

DC locals reported more nooses around the city after both museum incidents. Authorities discovered a noose hung from several doors at Anne Beers Elementary School in Southeast D.C. and a noose at a house under construction in Southeast.

Anyone with information regarding the Montgomery Village incident is asked to call the Montgomery County Police Department at 301-279-8000.