Investigation continues after noose found at DC's African American museum
WASHINGTON - Five days after a noose was found in DC's African American history museum, many people are puzzled and concerned as to why more information-- specifically, surveillance video from inside the museum-- has not been released to the public, and why investigators have not released details about a possible suspect or suspects in the case.
A noose was found by a tourist inside the segregation gallery at the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture on Wednesday afternoon. Since it was discovered, there have been reports that surveillance video was recorded inside the gallery, but officials have yet to release any details on what might have been captured on tape.
On Monday afternoon, a museum official told FOX 5's Kristyn Leon they have "no interest in sharing the video," but didn't say why. Earlier in the day, another museum spokesperson said it's part of protocol to turn over any surveillance video that might exist to police as part of the investigation process. In this case, the spokesperson also said they're not even sure that video of the person or person who hung the noose inside the museum's gallery even exists, and the couldn't talk about what was on the video that has been turned over to U.S. Park Police.
As of Monday, U.S. Park Police said there is no update in the investigation, and they won't be releasing any video because it would compromise their investigation, which is still ongoing at this time.
FOX 5 will continue to follow the story and provide updates as they are available.
This isn't the only situation recently where a noose has been found around the DC area, and that has many people are concerned and upset. Back in April, a noose was found inside a fraternity house at the University of Maryland. A few days later, bananas hanging by string in the shape of nooses were found at three locations on the campus of American University in D.C. The bananas were marked with the word "Harambe" and with the letters representing Alpha Kappa Alpha, a predominantly African American sorority. The hate crime incident happened on the same day the university's first black female government president took office.
Later in May, two men were arrested for placing a noose at a middle school in Crofton, Maryland. The two 19-year-olds were later charged with a hate crime.
On May 26, a noose was found hanging from a tree outside of the Hirshhorn Museum, another museum part of the Smithsonian Institution.