11.15.2007
Noose Problems
2007 seems to be shaping up to be the year of the noose. In the wake of the Jena Six controversy, which started with the hanging of nooses to intimidate black students, the hanging rope seems to have re-entered our consciousness as a symbol of persecution and intimidation (both real and imagined). This new "noose awareness" has sparked a string of intimidating noose placements, in addition to some seemingly innocent/naive uses of the symbol that have generated controversy.
Up until now the harassing noose placements had all been racially motivated, but that seems to have changed now that a noose has been placed outside a Pagan-run metaphysical shop in Bakersfield, California.
"A hangman's noose was found outside a spiritual bookstore in Bakersfield run by a self-proclaimed witch. Police are calling the noose discovered at Altar Bookshoppe, which sells occult books and supplies in Old Town Kern suspicious."
While the report is somewhat sparse, Altar Bookshoppe owner Katie Olivares gives a bit more detail on the case at the Wren's Nest comments for the story.
"What is not being reported by the ABC station is that the NBC station aired a segment /the previous week/ about Witchcraft which featured interviews, a short ritual and (gasp!) my children's book about the craft. Not a hate crime? It seems obvious to me. I don't want this to turn into a cop-bashing opportunity. They get enough bad press. (. . . and I happen to be very-much in love with a police officer!) I see this as a potential opportunity to dispel some myths and foster some acceptance, which is why I consented to the original interview."
Which certainly makes it seem like someone was trying to intimidate the Witch they saw on TV. While a previous television appearance was most certainly a factor in inciting some idiot to take up rope-tying, other theories have emerged.
"Because of the brou ha-ha connected with a Halloween decoration, someone thought to use it as a threat now. I've a feeling that this is going to happen more often, because the people that are doing this sort of thing are usually lacking in imagination-if not in hate."
Did news coverage over the controversy concerning a noose-hung "witch" during Halloween in Massachusetts help inject a renewed connection between witches and nooses? I doubt we'll ever know for sure, but it is certain that the vocabulary of hate and intimidation, racial and religious, has reached back into the past to stir old and painful cultural memories.
Labels: California, hate crime, Metaphysical Shops, noose, Paganism, Witch
