WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 14: A statue of Colorado pioneer and former slave Clara Brown is on display next to a preserved slave cabin at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture during the press preview on the National Mall September 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. Filled with exhibits and artifacts telling the story of the first Africans in the United States and their descendents, the 400,000-square-foot museum will open to the public on September 24. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
A noose was found at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. Wednesday afternoon, according to the Smithsonian.
What Happened?
The noose was found at an exhibition on segregation between 1786 and 1968. Park Police quickly removed it.
An investigation into the incident forced the exhibit to close for three hours. This marks the second time this week that a noose was found in the area. Last Friday, a noose was hung on a tree near the Hirshorn Museum after its closing.
Director of the museum Lonnie Bunch called the incident “painful” in an email to staff members.
“The noose has long represented a deplorable act of cowardice and depravity—a symbol of extreme violence for African Americans. Today’s incident is a painful reminder of the challenges that African Americans continue to face.”
David Skorton, the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, also spoke out against the acts via email.
“The Smithsonian family stands together in condemning this act of hatred and intolerance, especially repugnant in a museum that affirms and celebrates the American values of inclusion and diversity.” Skorton said. “We will not be intimated. Cowardly acts like these will not, for one moment, prevent us from the vital work we do. We will remain vigilant and, in spite of these deplorable acts, we will become a stronger institution for all Americans.”
An investigation into the incidents is on ongoing.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a Smithsonian Institution museum established in December 2003. The museum’s building, designed by David Adjaye, is on the National Mall in Washington, D.C..
The museum officially opened on September 24, 2016 in a ceremony led by President Barack Obama and houses an approximate collection size of 33,000.
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