Racist incident involving bananas hanging from nooses reported at American University

by Jay Korff/Richard Reeve/Stephen Pimpo Jr./ABC7
Tuesday, May 2nd 2017

WASHINGTON (ABC7) — The photographs show bananas, each hanging from a string, tied with what appears to be a noose. The images, circulated on social media and the American University campus newspaper, have shocked and angered students and school administrators.

"They tied it like a noose and put bananas in them," says Nadia Bowen, an AU sophomore. "I am like very devastated, and very disgusted." The administration says "multiple" bananas were found hanging from nooses at three locations: at a shuttle bus stop outside Letts-Anderson Hall, near the Mary Graydon Center and close by the East Quad Building.

All were discovered early Monday morning.

Written on the bananas are the words 'Harambe' and 'Aka', believed to be references to Alpha Kappa Alpha, the predominantly African-American sorority on campus.

"These racist, hateful messages have no place in our community," wrote Fanta Aw, the Interim Vice-President of Campus Life, in a memo to the University Community. "The safety of our students is paramount." Aw says campus police are investigating, and are asking anyone with information to come forward.

The Department of Public Safety is also looking through surveillance video, in hopes of getting new leads in the case. "It's almost the end of the semester and yet things like this are happening," says Sydney Hamilton, also a sophomore. "I shouldn't be in fear of my life, neither should other girls like me."

Students had their last day of classes Monday, and are now preparing for final exams. Some recalled a previous incident last September, in which two African-American female students were allegedly pelted by bananas. Others recounted stories of bananas thrown at dorm room doors, or left on door-steps. "We're supposed to be a safe place, we're a place for people for people to learn," says sophomore Andrew Fallone. "This isn't a place for people to feel threatened, in any way shape or form."

No one has claimed responsibility for Monday's incident.

This was the first day in office for newly-elected student government President Taylor Dumpson. Dumpson, the first African-American woman to hold that office, is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha. She called this latest incident ‘disheartening and immensely frustrating.’ "I implore all of us to unite in solidarity by this situation," Dumpson wrote in a released statement ... We must show those in the community that bigotry, hate, and racism cannot, and will not be tolerated." Students were planning an on-campus meeting to discuss the situation.

Authorities aren't saying if they suspect the culprits are students, or someone else. Bowen says she hopes whoever did this, will be caught soon. "As a black woman I exist on this campus," she says. "Knowing that I could be sharing classes or existing in the same space as people who would think this is okay or appropriate to do, is just really sad and devastating to me."

ABC7 News has learned that multiple groups of students took time away from studying for finals Monday night to meet and discuss how to move forward following the racist incident. "I really believe there’s absolutely no place for these types of cowardly and disgusting acts," says student Alex Raffi.

Student Alyssa Moncure says, “We have the stress of classes, writing papers, doing projects but we also have the added racial trauma of waking up and finding that there are nooses hanging around your campus.”

Shock, dismay, disappointment and fear and among the many emotions on campus. “It’s very dangerous. It’s something that brings a lot of anxiety to the campus as a whole, says student Jasmine Chandler.

Student Isaiah Young says, “I’m tired of being quiet. My people have been quiet for 400 years. You all are going to stop and you all are going to listen to what we have to say now.”

The school's Department of Public Safety is investigating the incident and are asking anyone with information on it to call or go to the the AUPD TIPS site.

Read Dumpson's full statement below:

"Being first isn’t easy. Early this morning, the Department of Public Safety was notified of a race-related incident targeted towards American University members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the first predominately black greek lettered sorority in the United States. It is disheartening and immensely frustrating that we are still dealing with this issue after recent conversations, dialogues, and town halls surrounding race relations on campus. But this is exactly why we need to do more than just have conversations but move in a direction towards more tangible solutions to prevent incidents like these from occurring in the future.

As the first black woman AUSG president, I implore all of us to unite in solidarity with those impacted by this situation and we must remember that ‘if there is no struggle, there is no progress’ – Frederick Douglass. We must use this time to reflect on what we value as a community and we must show those in the community that bigotry, hate, and racism cannot and will not be tolerated. This is not what I imagined my first letter to you all would be. In my first message to the student body, I would have wanted to talk about accountability, transparency, accessibility, and inclusivity. Now more than ever, we need to make sure that members of our community feel welcomed and above all, safe on this campus.

Earlier this year, the University updated the Student Code of Conduct to outline identity-motivated bias and the sanctioning process for such incidents. As the new AUSG president, I encourage the University to work to ensure that those responsible for these despicable acts are brought to justice. Throughout this process, I will remain as transparent as possible. As with all incidents involving the conduct process, the details of any proceedings will remain largely confidential. As I receive any updates, I will share as much as possible with the student body. This will not be tolerated now, or ever, on the campus of American University and I will do everything in my ability to ensure that this never happens again."

AU President Neil Kerwin also released a statement condemning the incident.

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