ALLENTOWN, Pa - Police are investigating after an item resembling a noose was found on an employee's desk at Allentown City Hall.
According to a press release, the Allentown Police Department was informed of the incident at Allentown City Hall at around 7:30 a.m. on January 10, 2025.
A small item resembling a noose was discovered on an employee's desk, according to the release.
The matter is being taken seriously and is under active investigation by the
Allentown Police Department.
Channel 69 News spoke to councilperson, Ce-Ce Gerlach. She told 69 News, "This morning a black female employee walked into her office to begin her day and she found a noose that was on her computer, I was told, that was on her desk."
Gerlach told 69 News that she spoke to the employee who said she found the noose hanging on her computer inside the Community and Economic Development office Friday morning.
"This is horrible. I am irate," Gerlach told WFMZ.
Councilperson Ed Zucal told WFMZ the employee filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint regarding racism and discrimination about a year ago and was set to have a mediation hearing the day before the incident. It's unclear if that meeting happened.
"It's ridiculous. I mean who wants to come to work under those circumstances knowing that kind of thing could be happening. It should not be happening. There is no excuse for this," Zucal told WFMZ News.
Regarding the noose, the city of Allentown says "An incident was reported at City Hall earlier today, and the Allentown Police Department was immediately contacted to investigate... The city administration is fully committed to ensuring a thorough investigation into this matter... At this time, we are unable to provide any additional details as the investigation is active and ongoing."
"Whoever did this needs to be federally charged, they need to be charged with a hate crime, they need to be arrested, they need to be fired immediately. We need to take this with the utmost seriousness. Our employees are not safe. The black employees are not safe. It's everyone. It's the white allies are not safe. Brown people are not safe. Gay people are not safe. Anyone in any marginalized community when you are working in a building in which a noose was found, you are not safe," Gerlach told 69 News. City officials tell us they are confident cameras and swipe data will help find whoever did this.
Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact the Allentown Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at 610-437-7721 or may submit an anonymous tip via Tip411.
We will notify you of any further updates regarding this investigation.
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