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DNA Could Help Unravel Noose Hate Crime

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Oct 11, 2007 6:50 am US/Eastern

DNA Could Help Unravel Noose Hate Crime

Police Scouring Surveillance Video

Columbia Prof. Remains Defiant: 'I Will Not Be Silenced'

Reporting
Magee Hickey

NEW YORK (CBS) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 2: The noose found hanging on the door of an African American professor at Columbia University has touched off a firestorm of protest all over campus.
CBS
Click to enlarge 2 of 2: CBS

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As detectives from the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force pour over surveillance tapes taken from security cameras, they are also trying to extract the suspect's DNA from the four-foot long twine rope.

The twine had been hand-fashioned into a hangman's noose and dangled on the doorknob of Professor Madonna Constantine's office.

She describes the incident as a blatant act of racism.

Constantine delivered a defiant message after being subjected to a symbol of racial hatred from the Deep South.

"Hanging the noose on my door reeks of cowardice and fear on many, many levels," said Constantine.

More than 100 students gathered in a show or support for the psychology and education professor.

"I would like the perpetrator to know I will not be silenced," Constantine said.

Constantine's research partner, Professor Derald Wing Sue, spoke of the boldness and bigotry of the vile act

"I actually saw the noose," said Sue. "I have less fear of the white supremacists and the overt racists than the well-intentioned individuals who are not in contact with their biases and their prejudices."

Some see the twisted rope as unraveling an unspoken truth.

"I'm happy it was put here because at least it lets those who are in denial recognize racism is still quite prevalent in our society," said student Carl Brown.

As for rival professor since professor Constantine is suing for defamation, police say she is not a suspect and has denied any involvement.

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