Amazon has shut down construction at an upcoming facility in Windsor, Connecticut after at least seven noose-like ropes were discovered at the site in the past month, prompting an investigation by local police with support from FBI officials in the region.
In a statement issued to the press after the discovery of the most recent noose, Amazon said it was “deeply disturbed” by the incidents and offered a $100,000 reward—up from $50,000—for information that would identify those who are responsible.
According to ABC News, the incident is being investigated by the Windsor Police Department with support from the FBI and Connecticut State Police.
According to the police, the most recent noose was discovered on Wednesday afternoon, hanging on overhead beams, and it was believed to be placed there during a lunch break when many workers had left the area, local news station WTNH reported.
The first incident had been reported on April 27 when a hangman’s noose was found hanging from a steel beam on the second floor of the building.
Two days later five more ropes that resembled a noose were found on several floors throughout the building, the report added.
According to the police, no other messages or markings were found at or around the site which is accessible to hundreds of workers from different companies.
Local chapters of the civil rights organization, NAACP, condemned the incidents and labeled them as hate crimes. In a press conference addressing the incident, the organization said: “The CT NAACP State Conference along with the Greater Hartford NAACP are outraged that noose number seven was found on the Amazon worksite…These forms of hate crimes have had a detrimental stain on the current state of America’s reality.”
The rope found on Wednesday will be sent to the state crime lab for further investigation and Windsor Police Chief Donald Melanson said that they are tracking down some leads on the latest incident. The NAACP will be meeting with Amazon to talk with workers on the site to listen to their concerns and experiences. The worksite is expected to remain closed at least until Monday.
Amazon shuts down construction at Connecticut site after nooses found (NBC News)
7 nooses found at Amazon construction site in Connecticut in past month (ABC News)
