The Amazon facility in Windsor, part of Hartford, Connecticut shut down the construction again after an eighth noose was found. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is conducting their investigation of the area.
An Amazon spokesperson said the noose was found among electrical materials on Wednesday.
"This was clearly a noose," Windsor Police Chief Donald Melanson said.
The floor where the noose was found was not worked on for two weeks and the police believe it may have been there for that long.
“Hate, racism or discrimination have no place in our society and are certainly not tolerated in any Amazon workplace — whether it be under construction like this one, or fully operational. Today, the site was shut down to allow the FBI to continue their investigation following the discovery of a noose found under electrical materials,” a spokesperson for Amazon said in a statement. “We will continue to work with all levels of law enforcement as well as our development partners, to hold the perpetrators accountable and ensure that all members of our community feel valued, respected and safe.”
This video highlights an early incident at Windsor Amazon facility
"This does not represent Windsor or what we stand for," Melanson said.
This video highlight recent news at the Windsor Amazon facility along with comments from the Connecticut NAACP President Scot X. Esdaile.
Governor Ned Lamont and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz released a joint statement.
"The events of the past several weeks at the Amazon construction site in Windsor have been disgusting and hateful," the statement read. "The individuals responsible for these actions must be held accountable, and we urge law enforcement to be aggressive in their investigation. This repeated behavior is calculated, and clearly meant to stoke fear and encourage racism and bigotry. What we have been seeing at this facility is wrong, and we condemn these actions in the strongest of terms.”
Several police officers have talked to the construction workers since the first incident happened on April 27. The police have made over 100 interviews and following up on leads.
Windsor Police Captain Andrew Power said the noose was found on the second floor of the Amazon building.
“Some of them were just rope that was tied at the end and some were twisted in a manner to look like a noose,” said Power.
Amazon has offered $50,000 and the site contractors and project developers have offered a $50,000 reward on information about the criminal (s). This reward for the information on the acts could lead to the suspect.
Melanson said, “in all likelihood, it’s a worker” who made the noose.
"We continue to be deeply disturbed by the incidents at this construction site," Amazon spokeperson Brian Griggs said, adding that they are working with authorities "to find and hold accountable the perpetrators of these incidents."
“Hate, racism or discrimination have no place in our society and are certainly not tolerated in any Amazon workplace — whether it be under construction like this one, or fully operational,” he said.
Nuchette Black-Burke, a town council member in Windsor was pressuring Amazon to solve the problem. She added that several employees were afraid to return to work.
“Many people don’t understand our history,” she said. “A noose? People’s heads were put in those and hung from trees, hung from different places. So while people may think that someone’s doing this just for giggles and ha-has, no, it’s real history that impacts.”
Esdaile said there has been a history of similar incidents at other construction sites in Connecticut in recent years.
Anyone with information may contact the Windsor Police Department at 860-688-5273.