A rope found in the garage stall of Black driver Bubba Wallace at the NASCAR race Sunday was a garage door pull, not a noose, and had been there since 2019, federal authorities and NASCAR said Tuesday.
Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Jay Town on Monday announced his office had launched an investigation along with the FBI and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. Town said they were looking to see whether there are violations of federal law. No federal crime was committed, his office said.
Town and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr. on Tuesday released this statement about the probe: “On Monday, fifteen FBI special agents conducted numerous interviews regarding the situation at Talladega Superspeedway. After a thorough review of the facts and evidence surrounding this event, we have concluded that no federal crime was committed.
The FBI learned that garage number 4, where the noose was found, was assigned to Bubba Wallace last week. The investigation also revealed evidence, including authentic video confirmed by NASCAR, that the noose found in garage number 4 was in that garage as early as October 2019. Although the noose is now known to have been in garage number 4 in 2019, nobody could have known Mr. Wallace would be assigned to garage number 4 last week.
The decision not to pursue federal charges is proper after reviewing all available facts and all applicable federal laws. We offer our thanks to NASCAR, Mr. Wallace, and everyone who cooperated with this investigation.”
NASCAR released this statement: “The FBI has completed its investigation at Talladega Superspeedway and determined that Bubba Wallace was not the victim of a hate crime. The FBI report concludes, and photographic evidence confirms, that the garage door pull rope fashioned like a noose had been positioned there since as early as last fall. This was obviously well before the 43 team’s arrival and garage assignment. 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.”
Full coverage of Bubba Wallace and the Talladega noose case
The discovery of the rope, announced by NASCAR Sunday night, came less than two weeks after Wallace successfully pushed the stock car racing series to ban the Confederate flag at its tracks and facilities. “We are angry and outraged and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act,” the series said in a statement. “As we have stated unequivocally, there is no place for racism in NASCAR, and this act only strengthens our resolve to make the sport open and welcoming to all.”
FBI agents went to the track Monday to interview anybody who was in the infield Sunday. “We are angry and outraged and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act,” the series said in a statement. “As we have stated unequivocally, there is no place for racism in NASCAR, and this act only strengthens our resolve to make the sport open and welcoming to all.”
Wallace is the only full-time Black driver in NASCAR’s elite Cup Series. On Twitter, he said the “the despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened and serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and ow persistent we must be in the fight against racism.”
“As my mother told me today, ‘They are just trying to scare you,’” he wrote. " This will not break me. I will not give in nor will I back down. I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in.”
Earlier Monday, Gov. Kay Ivey called the incident at Talladega Superspeedway was a “vile act” and “disgusting display of hatred.”
“I am shocked and appalled to hear of yesterday’s vile act against Bubba Wallace in Talladega -- there is no place for this disgusting display of hatred in our state,” Ivey said. “Racism and threats of this nature will not be condoned nor tolerated, and I commit to assisting in any way possible to ensure that the person responsible for this is caught and punished. While the important conversation of racial reconciliation is ongoing all over our country, it is clear there is much work to do.
“Bubba Wallace is one of us; he is a native of Mobile and on behalf of all Alabamians, I apologize to Bubba Wallace as well as to his family and friends for the hurt this has caused and regret the mark this leaves on our state. I ask the NASCAR family to rally around Bubba and his team as they compete today, and I know that there are more people who are wishing him well today than ever before.”
Talladega Mayor Timothy Ragland on Monday also condemned the display. “I am disgusted by the cowardly act of hatred towards Bubba Wallace, NASCAR’s only full-time Black driver,” Ragland said in a statement. “I urge NASCAR to use every resource at its disposal to find the culprit of this vicious and racist act. I offer every resource available under my authority to assist in finding the persons(s) responsible for this blight on the City of Talladega.”
Because of rain, the Sunday race was postponed until Monday. Prior to the start of the race, the drivers came together and pushed Bubba Wallace and his car forward. Wallace finished 14th, a career best at Talladega.
"had" - Google News
June 24, 2020 at 04:31AM
https://ift.tt/2Z8WdFo
‘Noose’ found in Bubba Wallace’s garage was door pull, had been there since 2019, officials say - AL.com
"had" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2KUBsq7
https://ift.tt/3c5pd6c
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "‘Noose’ found in Bubba Wallace’s garage was door pull, had been there since 2019, officials say - AL.com"
Post a Comment