Cleveland, Tn — Last month, the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga's Cleveland (TN) branch fired three employees who were involved in leaving two nooses at its facility. Calvin Thompson, a black employee of six years, told WTVC-TV News Channel 9 that he found the first noose in early October and alerted Y management after he felt threatened. On Oct. 31, he found the second noose.
Lee McChesney, executive director of the Cleveland Y, told the TV station that a lifeguard admitted to creating both nooses with pool rope as a Halloween decoration and has since apologized to Thompson. After further investigation, media attention and a visit from the Bradley County NAACP, the Y fired the lifeguard responsible for the nooses and two other employees who knew about them.