A monkey toy was discovered hanging with a noose around its neck in a Brooklyn apartment building.

Residents of a Brooklyn apartment building are demanding answers after a disturbing incident. In February of 2024, a tenant at Boulevard Houses in East New York discovered a stuffed monkey hanging from her ceiling. This shocking act of blatant racism has left the community in disbelief and seeking accountability.

The tenant, Kim Darkens, was already on edge due to a recent fire on New Year's Eve that had caused damage to her home. She was shocked to find the toy monkey after workers from AVK Contracting Corp. had left her door open and unattended. Darkens was immediately triggered by thoughts of slavery and the disturbing history of hanging people from trees. "It was like being transported back to those terrible times," she recalled. "I couldn't help but wonder, was someone trying to send me a threatening message?"

But Darkens was not the only one affected by the incident. Other residents, like Joseph Serrano, had also experienced a lack of security during the repairs following the fire. Serrano had even lost some of his belongings to looters who took advantage of the open doors. "They went through my things like savages," he said, pointing to a case of tattoo equipment that had been rummaged through.

The frustration and fear of the tenants have caught the attention of lawmakers at the city and state level. They have been in constant contact with the residents, listening to their concerns and pushing for accountability. However, the response from the New York State Housing Authority (NYCHA) has been lackluster, with a spokesperson simply referring the matter to the NYPD.

This inadequate response has only further angered the community leaders, like City Councilman Chris Banks and State Assemblywoman Nikki Lucas. They have been vocal in their criticism of NYCHA's handling of the situation, with Lucas even calling for the removal of those responsible for the lack of proper construction oversight. "We cannot stand by while our community members are treated with disrespect and disregard," she stated.

In the wake of the incident, the subcontractor responsible for the repairs released a statement expressing their outrage and stating that the employee responsible had been terminated for violating their zero-tolerance policy. But for Darkens, the damage has already been done. "I don't know who did this," she said, clearly shaken. "And that's what's so frustrating and scary about it."

Sadly, this is not an isolated incident in Brooklyn. Despite being known as a diverse and accepting community, there have been other instances of racism in the area. In September of 2023, a 67-year-old man was arrested for terrorizing his Black neighbors at the Ebbets Field Apartments for over a year. He had been caught on camera wielding knives and shouting racial slurs. This disturbing trend has caused concern among residents, as well as community leaders who are working towards addressing and dismantling systemic racism.

Renowned scholar Tricia Rose has even weighed in on the issue, delving into the concept of "metaracism" and its effects on society. As incidents like the one at Boulevard Houses continue to occur, it is clear that there is still much work to be done in order to create a truly inclusive and equal society.

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