Nooses... Again

From the Chronicle: Two Pearland High School students have been charged with disorderly conduct after a security guard saw them hanging a noose in the high school parking lot......Corey Ellis, 17, and a 16-year-old juvenile were arrested and handed over to school officials for further investigation ... (the) school district has a zero tolerance policy toward displays of any symbols that could imply threats or hate. If convicted, the teens could each face a fine of up to $500.

These copycat noose incidents are getting a little old, but what's worse are the defenders of this behavior. As if anyone hanging a noose at this particular moment in time doesn't understand EXACTLY the message they're sending. While the article is still live, you should take a peek at the reader comments underneath. for those who don't have time, here's the abridged version:

• Boys will be boys
• This is all Jesse and Al's fault (and the media)
• Black people need to get over it already
• My ancestors were hung by nooses too
• They didn't know it would be this serious
• Yada, yada, yada
  

You get the drift. And Pearland is a suburb of Houston by the way.