A noose was found hanging on a lamppost outside the Church street post office in New York City. It is located at Ground Zero and was closed for nearly three years following the attacks in 2001. It was our post office and when it reopened, we felt like we could finally begin to embrace the new normal of life downtown.

I am thankful to have lived at Ground Zero and been right there during the attacks. Despite the almost indescribable death, sadness, fear and destruction, I witnessed strength, faith, resilience, generosity and overwhelming kindness and empathy.

I cannot imagine what message this noose, hung at this spot, was meant to convey. But in the face of the violent hatred we endured when the Towers were attacked, this stupid old noose is just ridiculous.