Urge Assembly To Make Display Of Hanging Noose A Felony

Photo Damion Reid Members of the New York City Council came together at A City Hall press conference on Thursday, December 13, to urge the New York state Assembly to pass Assembly Bill A-9480, which will make displaying a noose a Class E felony, under New York state's aggravated harassment statue. Speaking out were (from L. to R.) Councilmember David Yassky; Anti-Defamation League regional director Joel Levy; Councilmember Leroy Comrie; Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr.; and, Councilmember Robert Jackson.

Hanging a noose on someone's door, as has been done recently as an act of hate, would be the same as painting a swastika on that same door, making both felonies in the eyes of City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr.

"New York state already treats a burning cross and a swastika as a felony," says Vallone. "The symbolism of a noose is equally repugnant and should be treated equally under the law."

Vallone (D- Astoria), chairman of the council Public Safety Committee, drove the point home after participating in a City Hall press conference, calling on the state legislature to pass a pending bill which will make displaying a noose a Class E felony.

Vallone and Councilmember Robert Jackson (D- Manhattan), who was also at the press conference, are the prime sponsors of the city council resolution calling for it to be treated as a felony.

Vallone explained that displaying a swastika or burning a cross on property where the owner has not given explicit permission to do so is aggravated harassment.

"In the United States the depiction of a hangman's noose has come to connote the same feelings of harassment, terror and intimidation as both the burning of a cross and the [displaying of a] swastika," Vallone continued. "It is time for the law to acknowledge this symbolism by formally making the depiction of a hangman's noose a Class E felony."

Jackson stated, "The hangman's noose symbolizes a history of racially motivated intimidation and terror during the Jim Crow era. It is important that the law acknowledge that the hurt and disrespect that is felt when a noose is hung is equal to that of any other symbol of hate."

Councilmember Leroy Comrie (D- Jamaica), also at the press conference, praised Vallone and Jackson for taking the lead on the hate issue. " Similar to the usage of the n-word, the terrible history of lynching in this nation and the symbolism behind the hanging noose has been lost on our youth," he said. "I wholeheartedly support the passage of Assembly Bill A-9480 and urge our colleagues in Albany to pass this legislation with all deliberate speed."

Also supporting Vallone and Jackson, NYPD Deputy Chief Robert Boyce compared the noose to other hate symbols, such as graffiti, gang hand signals and insignias, colors and paraphernalia.

Boyce said these are external signs of an underground culture in which "loyalties are demonstrated and threats are made".