Florida lawmakers push measure to ban public display of noose

[The Straight Story]

Florida lawmakers push measure to ban public display of noose
Long characterized as a symbol of racial terror, the noose might soon be banned in the state.


TALLAHASSEE -- The picture, spread virally on the Web, was the last straw for state Sen. Frederica Wilson. It showed a man posing in front of the White House with a noose wrapped around an American flag.

``Some people think of it as a harmless prank, but the noose is a sign of hate and deeply offensive to African-American people,'' said Wilson, a Miami Democrat. ``It is wrong. And it needs to be stopped.'

Wilson on Tuesday presented a bill to a Senate committee that would make it illegal to display a noose in public if it threatens or intimidates. The proposed law would not apply to those who consent to having a noose on their property.

The bill, which is also being pushed by Tamarac Democrat Rep. Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed, will likely face FirstAmendment questions, and then must capture the attention of a Legislature focused more on dollars and cents than moral issues.

``We're going to deal with the budget because that's what we have to do,'' Wilson said. ``But there are other concerns that don't cost money and if it's something we can fix, we should fix it.''

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/03/10/1521495/lawmakers-push-measure-to-ban.html

[trumad]

1. So I'm guessing no more hanging people in effigy?

Sorry---but I don't think there's an epidemic of noose sightings to warrant this.

[DonCoquixote]

3. Here's the info from Florida

As Mad floridian and others could tell you, we mactually HAVE had a number of noose sightings that hit the news (NO pun meant). In one case, a kid was in a Wendy's restaurant, put a noose around a black boy's neck, and then, offered up as his "defense" "I come from Pasco county, we all feel this way down here." The sad thing is, if this kid was back in Pasco, he could have found a sympathetic jury.

[trumad]

5. Again I ask...

No more hanging people in effigy?

Shit--- St. Augustine ghost tours have a dozen or so exhibits that have nooses....

[DonCoquixote]

7. Come now

Everybody going to said tours knows they are not advocating hanging people TODAY. The people using the noose image are NOT trying to imitate 16th Century Spainiards, but rather 20th century KKK. Everybody, even people who watch way too many horror movies, knows that the Ghosts in the tours will NOT kill you, unlike the folks in White Sheets. I live next to where a Black Tourist was doused with Gasoline and set on fire, in the far away time of the early 2000's. I also live in a neighborhood where kids sprayed swastikas on people's doors, in the faraway date of last month.

[The Straight Story]

6. Wonder about halloween decorations (nt)

[Mari333]

2. I accidentally read "moose"

I need more coffee.

[ixion]

4. display of public moose may be a problem in Alaska

but not so much down here in Florida. :rofl: :donut:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

8. That sounds like the anti-Nazi laws in some European countries.

I would have no trouble with such banning, but it's likely to be struck down on 1st Am grounds.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. Indeed, there is no right not to be offended