Man who hung photos from nooses said he was trying to spark dialogue about racism, sheriff says

The man who hung laminated photos of Black victims of violence by nooses in two parks was himself a Black man trying to start a conversation about racism, Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas said.

The Milwaukee man, 53, will not face any charges for hanging the photos in Riverside and Atwater parks, Lucas said at a news conference Friday.

The discovery of the display last Saturday in Riverside Park prompted an outcry to investigate the matter. The Original Black Panthers of Milwaukee posted videos and photos of the group cutting down the nooses on Facebook, calling the display a “racist and disrespectful act to the memories” of those depicted: Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, Botham Jean, Ahmaud Arbery, Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin.

"The man indicated that he placed the placards in the parks to invoke a dialogue in this community on how Black and brown men and women are dying in our country," Lucas said. "He further indicated that he wanted to teach his son about the lessons of lynchings in America and how they have taken on a different form from America's past." 

Investigators determined the man did not break any laws or ordinances, and the case has been closed.

"The man indicated that it was never his intention to stir up the kind of controversy that the discovery of those placards has created," Lucas said.

"This was a misguided attempt to shed light on a very difficult subject to grasp in this country," he added.

Lucas spoke to the man, who he did not identify. Lucas said it was important he heard the man's reasoning before addressing reporters.

"If I was going to come before all of you, and all of this community, and say that we have found the individual responsible for placing those placards in the park, and to try to dispel the pain that some felt ... I felt that it was important that I had some dialogue with the individual," Lucas said.

Lucas said he's willing to have "healthy and meaningful" discussions about race and policing, and that it's time for leaders in Milwaukee and across America to start talking seriously about change.

Every facet of the Milwaukee community, from business leaders to faith leaders to politicians to law enforcement, need to be "at the table" for change to happen, Lucas said.

"It's been a difficult conversation for people to even say the words that Black lives matter," Lucas said.

"And if the six lives that were depicted on those placards, and the voices of the people that we have heard from for the last 30 days are any indication, yes, Black lives do matter. And we ought to begin from that position right there and have the discussion."

Contact Sophie Carson at (414) 223-5512 or scarson@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @SCarson_News.