The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI are both investigating after a noose was found hanging in NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace’s garage. Wallace is the only Black driver racing in NASCAR’s Cup series.
The government’s announcement comes after NASCAR said that they are also investigating the incident. The statement read:
“The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of Alabama, FBI and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division are reviewing the situation surrounding the noose that was found in Bubba Wallace’s garage to determine whether there are violations of federal law. Regardless of whether federal charges can be brought, this type of action has no place in our society.”
Statement from U.S. Department of Justice that it is reviewing the noose found in Bubba Wallace’s garage stall Sunday at Talladega: #nascar pic.twitter.com/QNhAEouEPj
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 22, 2020
NASCAR said that they have launched an investigation and “will do everything we can to identify the person(s) responsible and eliminate them from the sport.”
The organization added, “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.”
In an Instagram post, 26-year-old Wallace said, “Together, our sport has made a real commitment to driving real change,” adding, “Nothing is more important and we will not be deterred by the reprehensible actions of those who seek to spread hate.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBuM1N_jQ4K/
NASCAR angered some fans in early June when it announced that the Confederate flag would be banned at races. It said that “the presence of the Confederate flag at NASCAR events runs contrary to our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans, our competitors and our industry.”
The criticism of that move has been apparent — at last weekend’s race, a plane flew a Confederate flag over the track with a banner reading “DEFUND NASCAR.”