Police investigated after a group of rainbow colored nooses were discovered hanging from a tree on a college campus in Tennessee.

The six nooses were arranged like in rainbow colors at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, leading some to worry it was a death threat to LGBTI people or urging them to commit suicide. The noose is also a symbol of racial hatred in the US, especially in the south.

Thousands of blacks were lynched in a dozen states including Tennessee between 1877 and 1950

The FBI was notified in Nashville, and had begun investigating if a hate crime had taken place.

It turns out it was part of a ‘student art project’.

A photo posted by NAACP Of APSU (@naacp.apsu) on Apr 18, 2016 at 3:41pm PDT



‘The police were very clear they didn’t understand if it was art or not art,’ said spokesperson Derek van der Merwe, explaining why the pieces were dismantled.

‘Based upon that it has to be viewed as a hate symbol and removed.’

In a statement from the university, the student, whose identity was not disclosed, said: ‘My intention with my sculpture project was to address the cycle of death and rebirth that is represented by the arrival of spring.

‘I had no social or political statements in mind. I did not take into consideration that nooses are a racially charged symbol, for that I am sorry.’

A professor in the art department approved the initial concept for the art, but expressed concerns about the project. The student mounted the project without final approval.

‘This incident is deeply disturbing and is hurtful to our university community,’ said university President Alisa White, according to Reuters. ‘I am saddened, and I am sorry for the hurt and offense this has caused.’