NAACP official: Take nooses more seriously

DETROIT, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The head of the Detroit NAACP argues the federal government should increase penalties for people who hang nooses.

The Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of the city chapter, made his remarks after discovering that the person who hung four nooses in a classroom at Central Michigan University faces more serious charges under state law, The Detroit News reported. The student, whose name has not been released could be charged with a state felony, with a potential sentence of two years, or a federal misdemeanor.

"The noose represents 100 years of lynching," Anthony said. "Unfortunately, there is a feeling of tolerance for prejudice and for harassment and for discrimination. It should at the very minimum be a felony."

There have been more than 60 cases of hanging nooses in recent months following the publicity about Jena, La., where a noose was hung on a tree outside the high school. The white students who put up the noose were not charged with a criminal offense while black students involved in a later assault on a white student were originally charged as adults with attempted murder.