ALABAMA, USA —  A noose was found inside the garage of Bubba Wallace, the only black driver of NASCAR, a racing organization. The noose historic symbol of racial oppression and violence against African Americans, symbolizing the lynchings and hangings of African Americans in the past. The Justice Department is investigating this and acklowleged the gravity of the incident.  

Thos follows the banning of the Confederate flag by NASCAR from its events on the recommendation of Wallace this month. The Confederate flag is also another historic symbol of African American oppression in the USA.

In a statement on Monday, Jay E. Town, the United States attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, said federal officials were “reviewing the situation surrounding the noose that was found in Bubba Wallace’s garage to determine whether there are violations of federal law.”

“Regardless of whether federal charges can be brought, this type of action has no place in our society,” Town said.

“This will not break me,” Wallace said in a statement on Sunday night. “I will not give in nor will I back down. I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in.”

Richard Petty, the celebrated driver whose racing team employs Wallace, said Monday that he was “enraged” by what had happened in Alabama.

“The sick person who perpetrated this act must be found, exposed and swiftly and immediately expelled from NASCAR,” Petty said. “I believe in my heart this despicable act is not representative of the competitors I see each day in the NASCAR garage area. I stand shoulder to shoulder with Bubba, yesterday, today, tomorrow and every day forward.”

The federal inquiry is being conducted in parallel to one that NASCAR opened on Sunday. Steve Phelps, the NASCAR president, said Monday afternoon that officials “don’t have a lot of answers at this moment.”