The University of Maryland is investing a piece of plastic found on campus as a “possible hate-bias” incident.
In an email sent to students and a subsequent statement on their website, the University of Maryland wrote, “Earlier today, we were notified of a knotted piece of plastic wrap laying on the ground in the 7500 block of Baltimore Ave. An officer met with two individuals who were walking south when they noticed the item. Police were notified out of concern for possible hate-bias.”
Despite police investigating the plastic as a “possible hate-bias” incident, according to the statement, preliminary police reports show “this type of material is used to contain and protect loose items during transport.”
However, the statement continues, “Out of an abundance of caution, we are looking into this matter and conducting a review of our cameras in the area.”
The statement asks anyone with information to contact the University of Maryland Police Department.
The University of Maryland student newspaper, the Diamondback, reports the plastic wrap happened to be a “knotted piece of plastic wrap resembling a noose.”
According to the Diamondback, students were upset the police reportedly “initially dismissed the wrap as trash.”
Read more at:
http://www.mrctv.org/blog/university-maryland-investigates-plastic-wrap-possible-hate-bias
