Noose found on tree near Hirshhorn Museum in D.C.

WASHINGTON — A noose was found hanging from a tree near the Hirshhorn Museum on the National Mall, U.S. Park Police said Saturday.

A Smithsonian Police officer found the noose Friday afternoon while conducting security checks on the grounds. It was located inside of the dense canopy of a tree on the west side of the museum plaza.

Park Police do not know how long it had been hanging there.

The Washington Post reported that Smithsonian Secretary David J. Skorton said in an email to staff that the institution is committed to being a “welcoming, inclusive and safe place for all.” He said he knows staff will join him in “deploring” the act.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser tweeted after the incident:

“It is an unfortunate irony that a sign of intimidation/ignorance would be placed on our National Mall where Americans of all walks of life come to learn more about who we are, celebrate our diversity and leave inspired to improve their lives, communities and country,” she wrote.

The incident comes weeks after someone hung bananas with racist messages from nooses at several locations at American University.

Follow Mallory Hughes on Twitter: @mallorymhughes; contributing: the Associated Press