Hanging prop removed from tree outside Hollywood home

HOLLYWOOD, S.C. (WCBD) – An object that resembled a body hanging from a tree in the Hollywood community has been taken down after an outcry from neighbors and elected leaders.

Local civil rights group, Racial Justice Network (RJN), held a Tuesday morning press conference to address the prop – which appeared to be a body/body bag dangling from a tree – and expressed their gratitude to the family for deciding to remove the item.

The prop’s removal came hours after News 2 went to the property and spoke with a resident who claimed it was a decoration left over from Halloween. Still, some in the community felt intimidated or afraid by the decoration that was still visible in mid-February.

Elder James Johnson said the Racial Justice Network received calls from some residents who were concerned by what they described as a mannequin hanging in a tree. “So, we came out to investigate and there surely was a mannequin hanging in the tree.”

South Carolina State Representative Matt Leber (R) of District 116 met with a woman at the home on Monday and said he was told she did not want to take the item down.

“I do understand that maybe she has a civil dispute with one of the other community members and this is being dragged into that and it brings in a little bit more stubbornness about things and I can understand that but at the same time this is really being perceived as something that’s egregious,” Rep. Leber told News 2.

But the mannequin was ultimately taken down and left near a tree that was surrounded by signs containing messages to neighbors.

“In the two years this old, tattered Halloween decoration has been up, none of my neighbors have complained nor has Charleston County. If this was about my neighbors feeling threatened by my family, it would have been addressed sooner. This is targeted harassment that is playing on a very sensitive subject to gain the most attention,” one sign read.

According to another sign, the homeowner claimed a local business owner sent the video to RJN after a civil dispute and noted the decoration was “mass produced from Walmart that is a white inflatable object wrapped in a black body bag made for Halloween” and added that they have been “too lazy to take it down.”

“I apologize to my neighbor that the media as well as RJN has painted a picture that you are too meek and scared to report a figure that you are offended by,” one of the signs read.

Johnson said regardless of the item being a prop, he said the Halloween season was in October and it’s currently mid-February.

“We understand that she has signs in her yard saying that it’s Halloween, but Halloween was in October. And for the family to keep it up until February sends a strong message of hate to people who travel this road. So, I’m saying again, we thank her for taking it down and we appreciate it. And I’m pretty sure the neighbors who called our organization feel more safe now when traveling by this home,” he said.

As for the family, Johnson also sent a message that they should not be the target of retaliation. “The Racial Justice Network will fight for this family or any family regardless of what color they are,” he said, noting that they may have felt in danger.

Local leaders acknowledged the owners’ property rights but said they were concerned about the message it was sending.