A noose was found in an exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture Wednesday afternoon Smithsonian officials said.
According to reports US Park Police removed the noose and the exhibit reopened within three hours.
Lonnie Bunch III, founding director of the museum, said in a statement on Twitter, “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."
A statement from our Founding Director Lonnie Bunch on the noose found in our history galleries today. pic.twitter.com/sFWVSaobhV
— Smithsonian NMAAHC (@NMAAHC) May 31, 2017
The noose is the second one found on Smithsonian grounds this week. Another noose was found hanging from a tree outside the Hirshhorn Museum Sunday, media reports said.
Bunch continued, “ This was a horrible act, but it is a stark reminder of why our work is so important.”
