Indiana state lawmaker under fire for posting noose picture

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - An Indiana state lawmaker who posted nooses under a Facebook story about a black man pleading guilty is drawing criticism for using racist imagery.

State Rep. Jim Lucas, a Seymour Republican, posted a picture of a gallows with two nooses under a WISH-TV story about Marquise Dozier, who pleaded guilty to rape.

Lucas says he wanted to punish the man and believes in capital punishment. He says he's previously posted the image under stories involving white offenders. Lucas says he isn't racist and doesn't believe the photo is.

The chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus blasted the photo.

State Rep. Robin Shackleford, an Indianapolis Democrat, tells The Indianapolis Star noose imagery is well-known to be connected to the lynchings of African Americans and the "normalization of racism" must end.

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Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com