Michigan man who allegedly left nooses for BLM supporters, threatened to lynch Black people charged with hate crimes

A Michigan man is facing charges for allegedly trying to intimidate supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday. Kenneth Pilon, 61, is accused of making threats "with knowledge that the communications would be viewed as a threat," prosecutors stated.

According to a criminal complaint, Pilon allegedly called nine Starbucks stores across Michigan on June 14, 2020, and ordered workers on the phone to "tell all the employees wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts that the only good n***** is a dead n*****." He is also accused of telling one of the employees, "I'm gonna go out and lynch me a n*****."

Then over the next month, Pilon allegedly left four nooses across different parking lots, and a fifth one inside of a 7-Eleven convenience store. Attached to each noose were handwritten notes that stated: "An accessory to be worn with your 'BLM' t-shirt. Happy protesting!"