Crime & Safety
Mayor Condemns Brooklyn Public Library Noose As Hate Crime
Mayor Bill De Blasio said the noose found hanging outside the Bed-Stuy public library will be investigated as a hate crime.
BEDFORD-STUYVESANT, BROOKLYN — Two nooses found hanging outside Brooklyn public libraries last week will be investigated as hate crimes, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced.
The two nooses were found hanging from trees on Sept. 14 outside Brooklyn Public Library branch at 496 Franklin Ave. and near the Brooklyn Museum on Eastern Parkway, the Daily News first reported.
The mayor took to Twitter to condemn the act and assure New Yorkers the incidents would be investigated by the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force.
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This kind of hateful act won’t be tolerated in New York City. Our Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating. https://t.co/XzFC3RabBB
— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) September 15, 2017
City Councilman Robert Cornegy held a press conference with the Brooklyn NAACP and Human Rights Commission on Sunday to condemn the act as one of racial prejudice.
"We will not be intimidated by these vile acts of hatred and bigotry," Cornegy wrote on Facebook. "If you think this symbol has no significance let me remind you that not long ago in this country educating black people was actually illegal!!"
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Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and City Council candidate Jabari Brisport also spoke out against the nooses.
I REPEAT: Hate is not a #Brooklyn value. Whoever hung a noose at @BklynLibrary's Bedford Branch must meet #justice. https://t.co/5Mh5hcuJ0f
— Eric Adams (@BPEricAdams) September 15, 2017
We will gut hate from this city. I will shut down racist cowards, whether they be in Charlottesville or Bed-Stuy.https://t.co/q1Yf6QOxqA
— Jabari Brisport (@Jabari2017) September 16, 2017
Several Brooklynites blamed the Trump administration rhetoric for inspiring the act.
"Noose found hanging outside Brooklyn Public Library," said Albie P. Pabon on Twitter. "Trump is directly responsible for morose behavior."
"This will never stop," Rotimi Akinnuoye wrote on Facebook. "Especially since America just voted in a racist in the White House. It's ok to do this now in 2017. #newnorm"
Gale Sheelar responded simply, "Thx Trump."
Header Photo courtesy of Councilman Robert Cornegy/Facebook
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