February 12, 2008
Bush Speaks Out On Hate Crimes
President Bush issued a forceful indictment of hate crimes during a White House event honoring Black History Month.
"The noose is not a symbol of prairie justice, but of gross injustice. Displaying one is not a harmless prank," Bush said, referring to a "a number of media reports" of noose displays. "And lynching is not a word to be mentioned in jest. As a civil society, we must understand that noose displays and lynching jokes have no place in a civil society. They are wrong and have no place in America today."
Bush's remarks come on the 199th birthday of Abraham Lincoln.
The District has been home to several high-profile racial incidents in recent months. Several contractors were fired after a Jan. 22 incident in which a noose was found in a break room at the site of the new Washington Nationals stadium. D.C. legislators have since introduced a bill making the display of nooses a hate crime.
Last week, another stadium worker was fired for making allegedly racist remarks.
Bush's remarks today, at a ceremony honoring prominent black Americans including Rep. John Lewis, come five months after massive protests over racially charged incidents in Jena, La., including a student prank involving a noose. Bush only spoke broadly about the controversy at the time, describing the incidents as "saddening."
Posted at 3:41 PM
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Bush Administration, President Bush, Race
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