MINNEAPOLIS — A noose hung from a newsroom ceiling has led to the firing of the news editor of the Minneapolis Community and Technical College campus newspaper.
Gabriel Keith said that when he taped it to the ceiling on Oct. 10 as a reminder for student reporters to turn in their stories on time he didn’t realize the racist implications of the noose and the memories they stir of lynchings.
“I am definitely aware of it now,” Keith said.
Accusations have been flying, both about the incident and the college’s response. Some students find it difficult to believe Keith, 26, didn’t know what he was doing. Two student groups rallied last week to express outrage.
“We are angry,” said Lisa Dean, 31, president of Associates of Black Collegians, a student group. “If we do not nip it in the bud, it will spread and a lot of students may not want to attend this college because of racism.”
Keith, who is White, said he just meant it as a joke.
