<html>
<body>
<font size=3>
<a href="http://www.counterpunch.org/jacobs09182007.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.counterpunch.org/jacobs09182007.html<br><br>
</a></font><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=4><b>September 18,
2007<br><br>
</font><h1><b>Nooses Hung From Jena, La. to College Park, Md.
</b></h1><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=5><b>By RON JACOBS
<br><br>
</b></font><font face="Verdana" size=4 color="#990000">O</font>
<font face="Verdana" size=2>n September 7 , 2007 a noose was found
hanging from a tree outside the Nyumburu Cultural Center at the
Universtiy of Maryland. This incident occurred only two days after
a rally for the Jena 6 (a case that also involves the hanging of nooses)
at nearby Howard University in Washington, DC that attracted between 1500
and 2000 people. University of Maryland officials have been quick
to comment on the noose incident at the center and student organizations
led by the campus Black Student Union have mobilized thousands of
students and community members against racism. What follows is an
exchange with one of the many organizers of the anti-racism
campaign.<br><br>
<b>Ron: </b>First, can you tell me about the incident and how it was
discovered?<br><br>
<b>Rayyan: </b>On September 7 , a noose was found hanging on a tree
outside the Nyumburu Cultural Center at the University of Maryland.
There is speculation that the noose had remained on the tree for nearly a
week before it was finally reported to the police by an unknown
person. On Friday, the police department issued a statement
characterizing it as a hate crime, and indicating that they were looking
into the matter.<br><br>
<b>Ron: </b>What is your role at the University of Maryland? How
long have you attended the university?<br><br>
<b>Rayyan: </b>I have attended the University of Maryland as an
undergraduate for the last two years (this is my third year on
campus). I am currently a Criminology and Criminal Justice major,
although when I am not studying, I play a role in organizing as an
activist on campus. I am a member of the International Socialist
Organization (and have been since my freshman year). The ISO often
unites with other student groups (such as the Latino Student Union and
the Muslim Students Association) to organize around issues of social
justice (among them the issue of immigrants rights, defending
Arabs/Muslims from racism, and organizing against the war). As an
activist, my primary goal is to help rebuild an organized Left on the
campus and around the country that can stand against the social and
economic issues that face working people today.<br><br>
<b>Ron:</b>What is the Nyumburu Cultural Center? Who has their
offices there and what is its history?<br><br>
<b>Rayyan: </b>Nyumburu is a multicultural center that is now in its 28th
year. The word "Nyumburu" comes from a Swahili word
meaning "freedom house," and the primary aim of the center is
to provide a safe haven for community members of all different
ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. By providing a place for
intellectual dialogue, the Center is able to fight against racist
violence and ethnic discrimination.<br><br>
<b>Ron:</b>Were you surprised at this incident? Had there been any
indication in recent years that the apparent sentiment that the noose
symbolizes exists on campus or in College Park?<br><br>
<b>Rayyan: </b>Racial tensions have been boiling up on campus for the
past few years now. In 2005 there was an incident of police
brutality towards people of color on campus after police officers broke
up a party in a university residential complex. Community Roots, an
activist group on campus, along with other student organizations
initiated a rally in response to brutalitywhich drew out over 150 people
. The recent incident, however, is a little different in character
in that it was not another episode of police using racism as a
weapon--this recent crime was most probably committed by a member of the
University community. <br><br>
Maryland often prides itself on graduating more African Americans than
any top twenty public university, but it can't just be a statistic.
The university has to embody those principles and address issues of
racism in an open manner.<br><br>
<b>Ron: </b>What has been the ad hoc response of the students? The
administration? Faculty and staff?<br><br>
<b>Rayyan:</b>The President of the University, President Mote, released a
statement to the campus community on September 8--excerpts are pasted
below:<br><br>
</font>
<dl>
<dd>To Members of the University Community:<br><br>
<dd>The University of Maryland is proud of its great diversity and deeply
committed to the right of all members of our family to work and live in
an environment in which they feel safe, and respected. The recent report
of a hate crime, which is now under investigation by our Department of
Public Safety, is of great concern. The possibility that this act
appears intended to bring to mind the horrific crime of lynching, which
is such a terrible and tragic part of our nation's past, is particularly
abhorrent.<br><br>
<dd>The University of Maryland will not tolerate discrimination,
harassment or acts of hate. All members of our community should be
aware that incidents that run counter to our inclusiveness should be
reported to one of the offices listed at the end of this letter.<br><br>
<dd>I know that I speak for the entire University of Maryland community
in saying that we are dismayed at this possible hate crime. We know
that the successful investigation of this act and the apprehension of
those responsible will be greatly assisted by members of the campus
community who come forward with information.<br><br>
<dd>I thank the campus community for standing in unity against the spirit
and execution of such acts.<br><br>
<dd>C. D. Mote, Jr.<br>
<dd>President<br><br>
</dl>The students response has been incredible. The Black Student
Union has played an amazing leadership role in organizing the
campus. As a campus community, we cannot give them enough credit
for their response to this incident. Yesterday, the BSU held a town
hall meeting at which over 200 students attended (it was held right in
Nyumburu). There were people of all genders, races, and backgrounds
attending in solidarity with the people of color on the campus in a
united fight against racism. <br><br>
Ron: </b>As you know, there was another racial attack regarding a noose
recently in Jena, Louisiana. What do these occurrences represent to
you? Is this type of racism coming back or do you consider them to
be harmful but isolated incidents?<br><br>
Rayyan: </b>It is not a coincidence that two days after a successful
"Justice for the Jena 6" solidarity rally at Howard University
a noose was found hanging at the University of Maryland. The
reality is that despite the massive gains made by the Civil Rights and
Black Power movements, racism is very much alive today. In
addition, there is a polarization in society--the people who support such
bigotry are on the defensive because those of us who are anti-racists
have made it clear that we will not tolerate racist injustice in any
form. That means that when they come out with their nooses (in
Jena, and in CP), we need to make it absolutely clear that they are not
welcome. We need to make sure that these racists are no longer
comfortable in expressing such violent behavior.<br><br>
Ron Jacobs</b> is author of
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1859841678/counterpunchmaga">
The Way the Wind Blew: a history of the Weather Underground</a>, which is
just republished by Verso. Jacobs' essay on Big Bill Broonzy is featured
in CounterPunch's collection on music, art and sex,
<a href="http://www.easycarts.net/ecarts/CounterPunch/CP_Books.html">
Serpents in the Garden</a>. His first novel,
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0977459098/counterpunchmaga">
Short Order Frame Up,</a> is published by Mainstay Press. He can be
reached at:
<a href="mailto:rjacobs3625@charter.net">rjacobs3625@charter.net</a>
<br><br>
<br><br>
<x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<font size=3 color="#FF0000">Freedom Archives<br>
522 Valencia Street<br>
San Francisco, CA 94110<br><br>
</font><font size=3 color="#008000">415 863-9977<br><br>
</font><font size=3 color="#0000FF">
<a href="http://www.freedomarchives.org/" eudora="autourl">
www.Freedomarchives.org</a></font><font size=3> </font></body>
</html>