This is a Hate Crime that Must be Prosecuted!

Hanging a Black figure with a noose from a tree with hands tied behind its back and neck at an unnatural angle is a terrorist threat to African Americans.  Such a figure was displayed in the front yard of a home on Pelham Road directly across the street from Trinity Elementary School on Sunday, October 13.  This is a hate crime.

The lynching of African Americans is part of a campaign to enforce racial subordination and a tool of white terrorist groups throughout U.S. history.  Despite the fact that this display was taken down once the police became involved does not negate the fact that a heinous hate crime has been committed. 

New York State defines a hate crime as follows: A hate crime is a traditional offense that is motivated by bias. A person commits a hate crime when one of a specified set of crimes is committed targeting a victim because of a perception or belief about their race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation, or when such an act is committed as a result of that type of perception or belief. These crimes can target an individual, a group of individuals or public or private property.

Hate crimes can be perpetrated against an individual, a group, or against public or private property. For example, hanging a noose or painting a swastika could be deemed hate crimes.

We call on Mimi Rocah, the Westchester District Attorney and Letitia James, the New York State Attorney General, to charge those responsible for this heinous display with a hate crime as defined by  The Laws of New York Consolidated Laws of New York CHAPTER 40 Penal PART 4 Administrative Provisions TITLE Y Hate Crimes Act of 2000 ARTICLE 485 Hate Crimes.