Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson joined congressional colleagues and sorors at a news conference today to decry the discovery of bananas hanging from nooses tied to trees on the campus of American University in Washington, D.C. The despicable act appears to be in response the election of the university's first African-American student government president, Taylor Dumpson, who is also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
In addition to delivering the statement below condemning the incident and similar acts on campuses around the nation, Rep. Wilson called on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to address this terrible phenomenon.
"I was both outraged and deeply saddened to learn about this racist assault against our soror, Taylor Dumpson.
"This cowardly act of hanging bananas from nooses across the American University campus, with the messages ‘AKA Free' and ‘Harambe Bait,' is not only despicable, but is also a hate crime for which the person or people responsible should be appropriately charged.
"I strongly urge the university to take every step necessary to uncover those responsible for this crime and ensure that they get a well-deserved day in court.
"It is a travesty that in this day and age, such bigotry still exists.
"No matter how high we go—whether it's being elected the nation's first black president or AU's first African-American student government president—some people just can't help themselves from going low.
"Unfortunately, this is not even the first time in the past year that such a controversy has occurred on AU's campus. Without the appropriate action, it will not be the last. Sadder still, American University is not the only campus on which white students are expressing their prejudices against students of color.
"I stand here today with my sorors to let the world know that we will not stand silent in the face of racism. This not the last you will hear from us about the American University incident and those that have occurred and will likely occur again on campuses across the nation.
"To soror Taylor, I want to say that while this terrible incident may have spoiled your first day as student government president, but do not let it affect your tenure.
"Some people may try to call us gorilla bait, but the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha are among the most accomplished women in the world. We are women of substance, women of pride, and women of integrity. We are leaders in every way.
"Such incidents may make us momentarily feel down, but they will never take us out. When they go low, we go high!"
