Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Two nooses were found hanging outside the Mississippi State Capitol on Monday alongside signs decrying the state's history of lynching, state police said.
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety shared photos of the five signs to its Facebook page including two which referenced the lynchings of Emmet Till and Willie Jones -- both of which took place in Mississippi -- and a third stating Mississippi had the highest record for lynchings from 1882-1968.
"On Tuesday Nov. 27, thousands of Mississippians will vote for a senator. We need someone who respects the lives of lynch victims," a fourth sign read.
"We're hanging nooses to remind people that times haven't changed," the last sign stated.
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U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst for the Southern District of Mississippi issued a statement saying the Justice Department and local law enforcement "are actively looking into these acts of hate and intimidation."
"Let me be perfectly clear -- there is absolutely no place in our state for these unacceptable symbols or tactics to intimidate others," Hurst said. " If we find evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that a federal crime has occurred, these criminals will be swiftly prosecuted and held accountable. Let us all respond to these despicable acts by voting, working, raising our families, practicing our faith and pursuing the American dream here in our great state without fear or trepidation and in harmony with our fellow citizens."
Gov. Phil Bryant said those responsible for hanging the nooses and placing the signs outside the Capitol would be "identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law" in an emailed statement to the Mississippi Clarion Ledger.
Bryant added he contacted the Department of Public Safety and the FBI for assistance.
The nooses and signs were found outside the Capitol building after Mississippi news station WLBT received a tip Monday morning, communications director for the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration Chuck McIntosh told NBC News.
McIntosh added that Capitol police didn't have any suspects as of late Monday morning.
The incident came one day before Tuesday's runoff election between Democrat Mike Espy and incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, which has become racially charged.
During a debate last week, Espy, who is black, said Hyde-Smith, who is white, gave the state of Mississippi "another black eye" on racial issues after a video shared to Twitter earlier this month showed the Republican embracing cattle rancher Colin Hutchinson as she said "If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row."
Her campaign later said the comment was a joke and during the debate, Hyde-Smith said the comment "was twisted, was turned into a weapon to be used against me" and apologized.
"No one twisted your comments," Espy responded. "They came out of your mouth. I don't know what's in your heart -- but we all know what came out of your mouth ... It's caused our state harm."
Espy said he wouldn't assume a connection between Hyde-Smith and the nooses.
"I can't connect that to her. I wouldn't do that. That'd be unfair," he said.
President Donald Trump was in Mississippi to hold two rallies for Hyde-Smith in Tupelo and Biloxi on Monday after referring to her as "an outstanding person who is strong on the Border, Crime, Military, our great Vets, Healthcare" and the Second Amendment on Sunday.
He defended Hyde-Smith's hanging comments when he arrived in Gulfport, saying her words were misconstrued
"First of all, there was an apology made," Trump said. "I heard that loud and clear. Second of all, really it was something that was sad and it was a little flip ... I know where her heart is, and her heart is good. That's not what she was meaning when she said that."
