A rope tied in a noose-like shape was found hanging from a tree outside Atlanta’s APEX Museum. The APEX is the city’s oldest Black history museum. It stands across from Georgia State University on Auburn Avenue. This location is in the historic Sweet Auburn district. This incident has ignited outrage, concern, and a police investigation.
Discovery of the Rope
On Wednesday afternoon, workers at the museum found a rope hanging from a tree on the museum grounds. The rope was shaped in a small loop that looked like a noose to many observers. Atlanta police responded around 2:40 p.m., calling it a “suspicious rope.” Homeland Security and local police investigated, though they did not officially call it a noose. Kyler Winston-Kendricks is an employee at the museum. He felt it sent a clear message. “They’re like, ‘Oh, it’s not classified as a noose, it’s too small…’ I’m like the inference is there,” Winston-Kendricks said. (Source: 11Alive.com) Still, the rope was removed and kept as evidence. Museum leaders want answers and accountability. The rope has been removed and is being treated as evidence. Authorities have not made any arrests and have not confirmed if race was a motive.
APEX Museum President and CEO Dan Moore Jr. filmed footage of the rope and shared it publicly. He said the rope was tied in a way that “almost noose-like.” Even if someone tried to say it was a prank, Moore said: “It was not a joke. It was not a funny thing to do.”
Connection to Mississippi Hangings
This disturbing discovery in Atlanta comes the same week that two men were found hanging from trees in Mississippi. The deaths happened in Cleveland and Vicksburg, and while police have said the cases are not connected, the timing may have left many in the South on edge. With the Atlanta rope incident happening just days later, the pattern feels especially heavy for Black communities already grappling with trauma.
Why It Matters
The rope was found near Georgia State University, in a neighborhood deeply tied to civil rights history. For many, its presence near a museum honoring Black achievement feels intentional and threatening. The Georgia NAACP spoke out strongly, calling the rope “a symbol of racial terror.” From their view, it was a deliberate act of intimidation.
NAACP President Gerald Griggs demanded a thorough investigation coordinated by city and campus police. He called on officials to provide updates. They should take disciplinary action if someone is found responsible. Additionally, they need to support students and staff who feel unsafe.
Could it really be something?
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