Monday, October 29, 2007

The re-emergence of the hangman's noose

Dear Friends, As Salaam Alaikum (Peace be upon you)

There is a re-emergence of the hangman's noose in the USA as a tool of intimidation of African-Americans. Some claim that the hangman's noose is mere prank, but to most African Americans, it evokes painful historical and real memories of mob lynchings. From 1882 to 1968, 4743 lynchings were held across the United State; the vast majority of the vitcims were black men. No one was charged or brought to juctice for any of these crimes

Since the noose hanging in the schoolyard that ignited the Jena, LA civil rights furor, there has been a re-emergence of nooses in various public place.

This shameful act of intimadation should be vigorously protested and prosecuted where possible

Iftekhar Hussain