That is funny, WE do know history, we live in the west where a noose was a symbol of justice against thieves and murderers (and train robbers and horse thieves) and anything else that was against the law. I’m sure that a lot of whites were hanged unfairly, just like a lot of white women were burned at the stake for being “witches” but you don’t see white women running around getting all worked up every time there’s a bon fire set.
Now you are arguing whether it is a “legitimate” interpretation to create the symbology.
That is irrelevant. The fact is, it is seen by the Black Community as a threat. That seems to be the part of history that is absent here.
It isn’t like there is a legitimate purpose to putting a noose in a public area (unless, maybe it is Halloween or for some other purpose — heck, even if someone put a sign saying “this is for car thieves” — but that isn’t the case here).
But, like it or not, it is perceived as a threat, and, as I said, not without justification.
There are only a few possible reasonable scenarios:
1) Hoax by black(s) to stir up trouble
2) Put up by non-black(s) with no intent other than to stir up trouble
3) Put up by non-black(s) with intent to send the message
That is why they have to investigate — given they won’t give the name I suspect 1).
My point all along here has been that it is seen as a threat I am sympathetic to blacks’ reactions.