City Called ‘Hangtown’ To Remove Noose From Its Logo As Residents Say It’s ‘Symbol Of Racism’

The California city of Placerville, formerly known as ‘Hangtown’, is removing the noose from its logo after residents decided it was a ‘symbol of racism’.

Placerville City Council voted in favour of removing the noose after hearing from distressed residents for more than three hours during a council meeting over Zoom.

The noose, which has been part of the logo for 40 years, is pictured hanging from a tree branch behind a miner in the image, which gives a nod to Placerville’s prestigious history as a mining town. But today’s residents connect the noose to a more recent, darker period in US history: the lynching of Black people – a period many Americans don’t wish to be reminded of.

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Placerville’s former name of Hangtown dates back to the Gold Rush era. In 1848, more than one thousand merchants, seamen and soldiers flocked to the town after gold was discovered. It was during this period that robberies and murders became commonplace, and in 1849, the first hangings for stealing gold from miners at knifepoint took place.

The noose in Placerville’s logo is only believed to have been around for 40 years. While some residents argue it’s part of the city’s history, others feel offended by it and believe it should be removed.

‘This meeting has been a long time coming,’ admitted Mayor Dennis Thomas during the meeting.

Others are on the fence and said that while it doesn’t offend them personally, they wouldn’t want any of their fellow residents to feel offended, and would therefore be in favour of taking it down.

The logo appears on buildings, vehicles and other landmarks throughout the city, and it’s estimated that it will cost around $5,3400 to remove it, according to KCRA News. The timespan of the removal isn’t yet known.

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