Lansing, MI - Linda V. Parker, director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights today released the below statement in response to yesterday's press release from Isabella County Prosecuting Attorney, Larry J. Burdick, indicating he would not seek charges regarding the CMU noose incident.

"Under current Michigan law, it was required that the investigation uncover racist intent behind the hanging of the noose. It appears there was a thorough investigation, and Prosecutor Burdick's decision is supported by the evidence as outlined in his statement. It does not appear that a racist motivation could be proven in this matter.

However, I am disappointed and troubled by both the length of the investigation and the apparent ignorance of the student in question. During the eight months without answer, racial tensions within the state were left to fester as the community waited to learn the intention behind the symbols. It is little comfort in the end to discover that the nooses were hung by a twenty-eight year old student ignorant of their historical significance. I am equally concerned that the nooses were left undisturbed for days in full view of both students and staff. We may never know whether those who failed to report the nooses did so out of fear, lack of understanding or worse - an agreement with the extreme intolerance nooses traditionally represent.

In any regard, the impact and implications of the incident are clear - much work remains toward erasing both ignorance and hate. In 2008, especially following the extensive national news coverage of the Jena six and other noose related incidents, such ignorance is most likely willful and definitely intolerable."

For more information on the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, visit http://www.michigan.gov/mdcr