US Election 2020: Missouri officials cover noose near polling booths

[Judi Lynn]

Source: BBC News


Published 21 minutes ago



Many Americans fear post-election violence

Officials have covered up a noose on display near polling booths in Missouri, after local Democrats argued it could intimidate black voters.

The incident is one of a number of controversial occurrences in the final days of the US election campaign.

Meanwhile a Democratic campaign bus in Texas was encircled by supporters of President Donald Trump, a Republican.

And a rally to promote voting in North Carolina ended with attendants getting pepper-sprayed and arrested.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54771351

[blueinredohio]

1. Why are they covering it up? Why not take it down?

[bluestarone]

3. EXACTLY!

TAKE IT DOWN!!!

[IronLionZion]

5. We can't erase history!

It's obviously there to intimidate people. Whether for lynching or for hanging of criminals. It's in poor taste whether there is a racist intent or not. But since it is Southern Missouri, there is definitely racist history for nooses.

[LogicFirst]

2. Absolutely no common sense.

[SWBTATTReg]

4. I think it was part of a long time running exhibit of the Bald Knobbers

A robber gang long ago that was prevalent in that part of the Ozarks. The displayed noose is a very unfortunate display (I'm surprised that no one caught before and covered up, good thing that some good folks did catch). By the way, this area of SW Missouri is very hilly, isolated, located next to Branson or Silver Dollar City. The Bald Knobbers were a robber gang so to speak in the lawlessness that existed in this area. I suggest to the curators that perhaps the noose display is no longer needed and throw it away / destroy it.


--snip--
The Bald Knobbers were a group of vigilantes in the Ozark region of southwest Missouri from 1883 to 1889. They are commonly depicted wearing black horned hoods with white outlines of faces painted on them, a distinction that evolved during the rapid proliferation of the group into neighboring counties from its Taney County origins. The group got its name from the grassy bald knob summits of the nearby Ozark Mountains.
--snip--
--snip--
County official Cindy Elmore said, quoted by the Kansas City Star newspaper, that the noose was a replica and part of a historical exhibit in the county building hosting the voting booths. It had "nothing to do with the election office", she added.
Ms Elmore said the noose was covered up on Friday morning.
Stone County was the location of Missouri's last legal hanging in 1937, which is depicted in the exhibit.
--snip--

[crickets]

6. Thanks for the background info.

If they insist on keep the noose display, maybe they should at least move it away from the window. Yikes.

[SWBTATTReg]

7. Yeah, really, at least. I personally think that the noose is NOT really needed, period.

Throw it away.

[The Genealogist]

8. Well, it should be taken down

The people who put up the exhibit should know better than to have this symbol displayed in an area where voters will be casting ballots.