Police are investigation a frightening case of possible racial intimidation in St. Louis.
A Black contractor working at the home of an Asian American woman found a noose hanging from a tree in her backyard, reports KMOV4.
The shocking find has homeowner Julia Ho and City Alderman Dan Guenther walking around the neighborhood asking if anyone knows who might be behind this.
The woman contractor told the St. Louis Post Dispatch she feels her life and business are both being threatened. She asked to remain anonymous.
“I thought, ‘Whoever did this, do they even know me? Who is this directed to: Me or Julia?’ Because we’re both people of color,” the contractor said. “I just saw this rather impressive noose, and the way it’s looped around the tree four times — someone took the time to climb that tree. Nothing about it was accidental. It was all an act of purpose, an act of hate.”
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Ho called the discovery “terrifying.”
She says she’s met with more hostility since COVID-19, but also expressed thanks to those neighbors who’ve reached out to offer support.
She is concerned for her own safety.
The Council of American Islamic Relations released a statement from its Missouri chapter Board Chair Yasir Ali offering support.
“This apparent act of hate shows the need for further action to combat racism, bigotry and xenophobia. We condemn all acts of racist intimidation and express our solidarity with the Asian American and Black communities. All Americans must come together to challenge the rising tide of White supremacy and racist hate.”
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Two solutions: Immediately have more foot patrol in Asian neighborhoods, Chinatowns for now, and for the deep, develop and produce programs that address the healing of those who hate, nipping racism in the young with meaningful Asian cultural programs. We need to do more than patch work after the fact. Prevention, prevention, prevention.