Police investigating report of noose drawn on ad at Belmont bank

BELMONT, N.C. — Police are trying to find out who drew a noose around the neck of an African American woman on an advertisement outside a bank in Belmont.

Just before noon on Wednesday, officers were called to the BB&T branch on Hawley Avenue after a woman said she saw the vandalism. When police arrived at the bank, the noose on the poster had already been drawn over and covered with a heart.

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Police are looking over surveillance video from the bank to determine who drew the noose.

Nooses were used in public lynchings for decades and became a symbol of racism and white supremacy.

“It’s atrocious,” said neighbor Matthew Shealy. “A human being is a human being. You don’t negate someone to their skin color, race, religion, or anything.”

Anyone with information should contact Officer T. Clinton with the Belmont Police Department at 704-825-3792.