Trade Unions Offer $100k Reward For Info On Noose At Altoona Job Site

A $100,000 reward is on the market today for anyone able to turn in whoever placed the noose found in late June at the Altoona Facebook Data Center construction site.

In an effort to gather tips that will lead to an eventual arrest in the now FBI and the Department of Justice-aided investigation, a group of construction trades announced in a press release they are now partnering to offer the reward.

After a supervisor for Turner Construction—the construction management company occupying the center—found the noose hanging in “public view” from a Waldinger Plan Lock Box in the early morning of June 19, Altoona Police have been investigating the incident.

“We believe in America, and no one should experience fear, workplace intimidation, or be subjected to hateful symbols of racism …We stand united against racism and discrimination and are committed to ensuring our members feel safe on the job,” said Earl Agan, President of the Central Iowa Building Trades—the group that partnered with North America’s Building Trades Unions in offering the reward.

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Information on the noose can reported by calling 202-227-2964 or by emailing [email protected]

Waldinger Corporation employee Kevin Jones posted a picture of the noose on Facebook shortly after the incident, and said the noose was put up where several Black employees on the project could find it easily.

“With all the bullshit going on in this country right now, someone thought it was okay to put a lynching noose up where 2 of the 3 black workers on the project, both of whom I am working with, would easily find it,” he wrote.

On June 26, Jones updated the post with news that an investigation initiated by Facebook and Turner had been completed with Waldinger firing at least five employees—some of them supervisors— and that their union would pull membership from anyone convicted of this crime.

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The placement of the noose is believed to have happened on June 19th, which marks the Juneteenth holiday, which celebrates emancipation from slavery, according to a press release from the NABTU. It was just two days before NASCAR officials found a noose in the garage stall of Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr., the only full-time Black driver in NASCAR’s elite Cup Series.

by Isabella Murray
Posted 7/9/20

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