Hangman nooses found at Windsor Assembly Plant

Windsor police are investigating racial harassment issues at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' minivan plant involving two hangman nooses that were found in the plant where black construction workers were working.

Workers who are retooling the plant said Tuesday they are shocked that any of their Canadian coworkers would carry out such an offensive act.

"I've never seen anything like that, ever," said Ray McRae, 52, of Windsor, who said he's worked at the Chrysler plant for 30 years. He is not part of the retooling effort.

The first noose was found Thursday afternoon underneath a trash can. The second noose was found Friday morning hanging on a golf cart.

Police, along with officials from Fiat Chrysler and Labourers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 625, are investigating the harassment issues.

"We are trying to identify a person of interest so we can try to establish the motive, who this individual is and why somebody would have done this," said Windsor Police Sgt. Matthew D'Asti.

The hangman's noose is among one of the most powerful visual symbols of racism against African Americans and is comparable in terms of the emotions that it evokes to that of the swastika for Jews, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

"The company takes such allegations very seriously and will investigate all allegations fully and in a timely manner," FCA Canada, the company previously known as Chrysler Canada, said in a statement. "Our employees found in violation of this policy are subject to discipline, up to and including termination."

Workers who found the hangman nooses are employed by construction companies that are renovating the plant for the automaker.

McRae and Greg Shepley were talking about the incident over drinks Tuesday at the Purple Lounge, a bar near the plant.

"If it's a joke, it's gone a little too far," said Shepley, 46, of Windsor, a pipe fitter who's been working at the plant about 1 1/2 months for the retooling. "We've evolved from that."

Both workers said such a racist gesture is ridiculous. McRae said it sounds like an individual rather than a group, perhaps someone in a personal argument who took things too far.

"This person is a moron," McRae said.

The automaker is in the middle of a 14-week renovation project in Windsor to prepare the plant for assembly of the next-generation minivan.

About 1,500 electricians and other skilled tradesmen began work there in February.

Contact Brent Snavely: 313-222-6512 or bsnavely@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrentSnavely.