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First of all, lets define a hate crime. A hate crime is generally defined as a violent crime against someone due to race, gender, or sexual orientation. Hating someone in general, is not a crime.

By no means is hanging a noose in a public place tactful or appropriate, but it is NOT a hate crime unless the person committing this act also violently acts against someone of another race, gender, or sexual orientation. However, if you ask people why it is inappropriate to hang a noose, many people will say that nooses were hung and used to kill slaves. This in fact is true, but we see nooses other places as well. Few people can say they have never played the game "hangman", watched a movie with a suicide by hanging, or watched an old western where they hung a criminal. Is "hangman" an offensive game? I have never heard of the popular word game being offensive. Many dramas and shows such as "CSI" have had suicide by hanging in them, and they are still widely popular with few complaints. Those western movies hang criminals, and no one complains. Should people who are suicidal be offended by a noose? How about criminals?

The noose has not ONLY been used to hang slaves. If we are going to debate the noose as a reference to racism, lets also debate the confederate flag that is flown most frequently in the south, guns, and whips. Although some may say the confederate flag is offensive, it is just a flag, part of history. It is a sign of a divided country that has learned to come together. We do not see southern states flying the flag and charging at the northern states. It's just a flag. Guns have many uses, but slaves were likely shot at in more than one case. Should we consider all guns hate crimes, even is no one is injured by them? And whips, they may have been used on slaves but they are also used for horse racing. My point is that a noose is just rope. Rope that has had many uses in our history.

Like many inappropriate actions in the world, hanging a noose may be considered harassment if directed at an individual. However unless a violent act accompanies it, it cannot be considered a hate crime.

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