FBI concludes that Bubba Wallace not victim of hate crime over noose incident

June 24, 2020 in News, Video by RBN Staff

Source:  theguardian

Bubba Wallace is a veteran of the Nascar circuit
 Bubba Wallace is a veteran of the Nascar circuit. Photograph: Usa Today Uspw/USA Today Sports

The FBI says that the noose found in the team garage of Bubba Wallace, Nascar’s only black full-time driver, was not part of a hate crime.

“We appreciate the FBI’s quick and thorough investigation and are thankful to learn that this was not an intentional, racist act against Bubba. We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all who love racing.”

The FBI said there will be no charges over the incident.

A crew member found the noose at the Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday and it was reported to Nascar. An investigation involving the justice department and FBI was launched on Monday, two weeks after Wallace had started a successful campaign to remove the Confederate flag from Nascar events. The removal was not welcomed by some fans who paraded the flag outside the Talladega track at the weekend.

 

In an appearance on CNN on Tuesday, Wallace said he had received backlash on social media after the FBI’s findings were released, despite the fact that he did not find or report the noose.

“I’m pissed. I’m mad because people are trying to test my character and the person that I am and my integrity,” he said.

He added, that having seen the rope, it looked like a noose. “It was a noose. Whether tied in 2019, or whatever, it was a noose,” he said. “So, it wasn’t directed at me, but somebody tied a noose.”

Before Monday’s race at Talladega, Wallace was given a stirring show of support by his fellow drivers and the pit crews, who pushed his car to the front of the grid. Wallace broke down in tears after the gesture.

Nascar has only had four black drivers in its 72-year history, and has long been known for elements of racism in its fanbase. Another noose was found at a racetrack in California on Saturday, and an investigation is yet to be concluded.

Americans have had enough …

… and are marching for justice in unprecedented numbers. They are responding to generations of police brutality and systemic racism, a desperation fueled by a pandemic and an economic crisis that have hit black Americans disproportionately. A mass movement has come together to say: we’ve had enough.

It’s not just Americans. All over the world, citizens are protesting the marginalization of communities of color. Still, virtually nothing has been done to address racial and economic inequality in decades. Words, yes; action, not so much. Those who have the power to effect meaningful change have failed to do so.