Black Florida Lawmaker Seeks To Ban Noose Displays

TALLAHASSEE - Hanging a noose in public could be against the law under a bill filed by a black state lawmaker, a reaction to recent intimidating uses of the lynching symbol.

The bill, filed this past week, would prohibit a person from placing a noose in a public place, on the property of another without written permission of the owner or in an exhibit of any kind with the intention of intimidating another person.

Violating the proposed law could lead to up to a year in jail.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Larcenia Bullard, D-Miami, said Thursday there is a movement among several black advocacy groups to have similar laws adopted in every state. Lawmakers in New York and Maryland are considering similar legislation.

"It is a concern of the black community that we never again have to live through what happened with the Jena Six or be reminded of the type of violence we faced from hanging in the past," Bullard said.

Six black students from Jena High School in Louisiana were charged with attempted murder after a 2006 assault on a white student. The beating came months after three other white students were suspended, but not criminally charged, for hanging nooses in a tree at the school.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida would not support the bill (SB 768) because of the way it could infringe on First Amendment rights.

"The ACLU believes what is needed is vigorous law enforcement of laws that protect the peoples' rights rather than more laws about other symbols of hate," said Howard Simon, with ACLU of Florida.

Bullard said she looks forward to discussing the bill and understands that other parties and individuals might have concerns about it. But the law would apply only to people who hang a noose as a threat, she said.

Rep. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, has filed a similar bill (HB 307) in the House.