An effigy of Barack Obama was found hanged from a tree on the campus of the University of Kentucky today. The effigy was discovered and reported by a faculty member early this morning, and an investigation by campus and local police is underway.
In a statement, UK president Lee Todd called the act “despicable.”
This is the second such incident to occur on a college campus this year. In late September, an effigy of Obama was hanged on the campus of George Fox University, a small Christian college in Oregon.
studentactivism.net 
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October 29, 2008 at 1:57 pm
jonolan
Freedom of speech and expression, baby!
I hope to hear of a LOT more Obama effigies over the course of this week. If it’s OK to hang a Palin effigy, then it’s OK to hang an Obama effigy.
October 29, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Angus Johnston
Neither is okay, Jonolan, but the Palin incident did not take place on a college campus, so I had no reason to mention it in this report.
October 29, 2008 at 2:23 pm
jonolan
I actually agree with you that neither is OK. But, since hanging Palin is not only legal but gets the home owner police protection and hanging Obama gets you punished – by the school, the local law, and the FBI (previous case) I have a large problem with the discrimination inherent in the views of the acts.
Hang a White woman’s effigy and people laugh.
Hang a Black man’s effigy and be arrested.
THAT’S why I’m hoping for a lot more Obama effigies. I’m sick to death of the double standards and blatant racism coming out of the Left these days.
October 29, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Angus Johnston
Jon, if you want to talk law, let’s talk law.
The Palin effigy was hanged on private property by homeowners. The local police determined that they violated no laws in doing so, but I’ve seen published reports saying they’re under investigation by the Secret Service, and that a county official is encouraging that they be prosecuted under hate crimes statutes.
The two Obama effigies were placed on public property anonymously. Police officials were able to question the individuals who hanged the Palin effigy, and they did. The investigation of the Kentucky and Oregon effigies is intended to allow the same questioning to take place.
As for your statement that hanging an Obama effigy “gets you punished,” I’m not aware that the perpetrators of either of the two incidents I discussed have been identified, much less charged with a crime, much less punished. If you know different, please let me know.
Finally, without in any way minimizing the Palin effigy, I would like to note that there is a difference, historically and culturally, between the message sent by hanging a white person in effigy and that sent by doing the same to a black person. Both are reprehensible, but one evokes America’s history of lynching in a way that the other does not. It’s not racist to note that fact, or to specifically condemn the racist message sent by such an act.
November 24, 2008 at 12:45 am
kyle
I thought america was past racism? yes indeed it is going on still but, every man woman and child is equal according to america. so a black man and a white man are equal NOW! this is now the past is the past it has no meaning in this case. and yes the men were charged for the effigy of obama.