Video from previous reporting.
WINDSOR, Conn. (WTNH) — Construction resumed Monday at an Amazon construction site in Windsor after it was shut down after a seventh noose was found on the site last week.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel released a statement regarding the reopening:
Hate, racism, or discrimination have no place in our society and are certainly not tolerated in any Amazon workplace — whether it be under construction like this one, or fully operational.
The site has reopened and we are committed to working with the Town and Windsor Police Department, as well as our development partners, to hold the perpetrators accountable and ensure that all members of our community feel valued, respected, and safe.
A $100,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.
The Greater Hartford NAACP Thursday afternoon addressed the discovery of a seventh noose at the Amazon construction site in Windsor, as well as other recent forms of hate crimes.
They said the site is being shut down until at least next week in response, which impacts hundreds of jobs.
“The CT NAACP State Conference along with the Greater Hartford NAACP are outraged that noose number seven was found on the Amazon worksite. Amazon has shut down the Windsor construction site,” the NAACP said. “These forms of hate crimes have had a detrimental stain on the current state of America’s reality and for them to hit so close to home and with such consistency, shows a robust disrespect for the not only human decency but also for our ancestors who lost their lives due to the hate represented within the knots in those ropes.”
The NAACP will be meeting with Amazon to talk with workers on the site to listen to their concerns and experiences on the Amazon site.
According to police, on Wednesday at 12:56, pm, officers were made aware of the discovery of a rope that could be interpreted as a noose hanging within overhead beams on the site.
Nearly a month ago, police found the first noose. Officers came back days later to find five more. This week’s discovery makes seven. These nooses are about 15-feet long, according to police.
Detectives immediately responded to that area and collected the rope as evidence. The Windsor Police Department is actively working with detectives from CSP and the FBI regarding the investigation.
FBI Special Agent David Sundberg added:
The New Haven Division of the FBI is lending its resources and support to the Windsor PD for this ongoing investigation. The implications of a hanging noose anywhere are unacceptable and will always generate the appropriate investigative response.
Brad Griggs of Amazon said, “We expect the site to be shut down at least until Monday while we work with law enforcement behind us to make sure the measures are installed.”
There are between 300-500 people on site each day.
The NAACP says many of the contractors, including the company in charge of hanging the steel, are brought in from the south.
Scot X. Esdaile, from the NAACP, said, “It’s kind of ironic that they are from Lynchburg, Virginia, and they were brought on the site, and a lot of individuals from Florida and Texas and Georgia from the south have come up here to work on this particular site.
Carlos Best is an Iron Worker at the site. He said the racism runs rampant.
“Personally as the foreman, I just had to let somebody go for using racist remarks,” he said.
He added, “We hear a lot of stuff on the job site but it is kept quiet, some guys just want to get a paycheck and go home, But personally, on this job here, I have seen a lot of racism. This is not the only construction site that these things occur on, and it has to stop.”
There is now a $100,000 reward for anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Windsor Police Department at (860) 688-5273.
