University probing whether nooses in rainbow colors were art
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A Tennessee university is investigating whether six nooses arranged in the colors of the rainbow and hanging from a tree near the art building were part of an art project.
Bill Pesinger is a spokesman with Austin Peay State University in Clarksville. He says someone called campus police about the display about 5 p.m. Monday. Police immediately took the nooses down out of concern they were meant as a hate symbol.
Pesinger says the head of the art department is interviewing a student about the display.
He says there was no artist’s statement left with the nooses that could explain why they were hung there.
University President Alisa White has issued a statement calling the nooses “deeply disturbing” and says such incidents will not be tolerated.
