An African-American Sacramento State University student has the school in an uproar after she simulated two white men being lynched from a tree on campus for an art project focusing on civil rights.
The two men, who had actual nooses hung around their necks, are fine. They are hired actors who were suspended from the tree and were never in danger.
Christina Edwards, the artist and a senior at the school, told Fox 40 that "the purpose of this performance was to bring to light social injustices and the issue of inequality that impacts me and my community as a whole."
The work definitely had an impact as students began sharing the hanging men on social media. The university has claimed that they didn't approve of the art on school property.
"It appears that the individuals involved did not intend for the display to incite violence, though it offended members of our community," said university president Alexander Gonzalez.
"The university did not approve the display, and I want to assure everyone that I am working to address the multiple issues raised by this incident," he told Fox News.
Edwards has defended her project, telling Fox 40 in a written statement that she believed using white men would send a distinct message and shine new light on a horrifying time when black men suffered the same fate. She said that she wanted to record the responses of students and others on campus.
Edwards also insisted that she followed all campus procedures.
"My choice to cross racial lines was intentional to create an open opportunity to personalize and empathize with his-story as a people and hopefully initiate compassion and change in terms of social and racial availability and equality," Edwards wrote.
Read more at Fox 40.