Police are investigating after nooses were found hanging at the Mississippi State Capitol

Mississippi State Capital. — (Image credit: iStock.)

Two nooses were found hanging at the Mississippi State Capitol, and police are currently reviewing surveillance video as part of an investigation, WLBT reports.

In addition to the nooses, pictures of which have been published online, what WLBT describes as several "hate signs" were also found. It's not yet clear what might have been written on these signs, and police have provided no other details. WAPT reports that a total of six signs were found.

This comes one day ahead of Mississippi's Senate run-off election, during which incumbent Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) is fending off a challenge from Democrat Mike Espy. Normally, Hyde-Smith's victory would be considered a slam dunk, but her campaign has been engulfed in a number of controversies over the past few weeks, which began when she said of a supporter, "If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row." Hyde-Smith later said this was simply an "exaggerated expression of regard," per The Washington Post, but the explanation didn't sit well with many, including Walmart, which pulled its support and asked for its donation back.

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Democrats have jumped on Hyde-Smith's remarks in the final stretch of the election in hopes of driving turnout, especially among black voters. Espy, who if elected would be the first black Senator from the state since Reconstruction, said in a debate last week, "We can't afford a senator who embarrasses us and reinforces the stereotypes we've worked so hard to overcome." Trump is set to hold two rallies in support of Hyde-Smith on Monday.

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Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.