Like many of the racial incidents reported in Anne Arundel County, the recent hanging of an effigy of a black man would be difficult to pursue as a hate crime, county officials said.
On April 6, county police received notice that an effigy with a spray-painted black milk jug for a head was hanging from a pedestrian bridge over Route 2.
Since 2003, 225 racial, religious or ethnic incidents have been reported in the county. According to the State?s Attorney?s Office, the most common incidents reported and prosecuted are vandalism and distribution of material with racist and anti-Semitic language. Racially motivated assaults are rare.
Edgewater residents said Wednesday that they don?t feel the Anne Arundel County is a breeding ground for racial incidents.
“It was racially divided here at one time ? years and years ago,” said Edgewater resident Donna Thomas.
Debi LaFleur, another Edgewater resident, said she has read about a few racial incidents in the county, including the graffiti depicting swastikas on South River High School three years ago.
Thomas said the effigy was just an example of “someone being stupid.”
“It bothers me, though ? it?s very upsetting,” she said.
County police said the most common type of racial incident in the county is the distribution of fliers with racist and anti-Semitic language. Neighborhoods in the county are blanketed with such fliers many times a year, police said.
However, just like the effigy, these fliers are protected under the constitutional right to free speech.
Anne Arundel Religious, Racial or Ethnic Incidents
» 2003: 74
» 2004: 63
» 2005: 76
» 2006 (through Feb.): 12
Source: Anne Arundel County
Police Department
